Flash flood kills 15 in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province

Villagers wade through mud at an area affected by flash flood in Baebunta, South Sulawesi province, Indonesia, Tuesday, July 14, 2020. The flash flood left a number of people dead and missing, an official said Tuesday. (AP)

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A flash flood in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province left at least 15 people dead and an unknown number missing, an official said Tuesday.

“Fifteen are reported dead and we are still looking for more casualties since access to many locations is still blocked by the mud,” North Luwu district official Indah Putri Indriani said.

She said the flooding began Monday evening and was triggered by heavy rains that caused three rivers to overflow.

Mud and other materials carried by the floodwaters covered roads and thousands of houses, she said.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Raditya Jati said the flood affected more than 4,000 residents of six sub districts in North Luwu.

“The provincial road is covered in mud and that blocks access to the main command post and the affected areas,” Jati said.

Heavy rains cause frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia, where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near flood plains.