Torrential rain caused a flash flood on Indonesia’s eastern Ternate Island on Sunday, sweeping away residential areas and leaving 13 people dead, officials said.
The deluge cut off the main road and access to the village of Rua in North Maluku province, the hardest-hit area, and buried dozens of houses and buildings under the mud.
Search and rescue teams worked with locals to recover the bodies and look for those still missing.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said high-intensity rain is still possible in the Ternate City area and its surroundings in the coming days.
Local authorities advised residents to remain vigilant and heed instructions in case of further flooding.
Heavy rain causes frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia, where millions live in mountainous areas and near floodplains.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here