Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Rescuers in Medan, Indonesia, have made a tragic discovery as they recovered the body of a man who was buried under tons of mud and rocks following flash floods and a landslide. The incident occurred in a hilly village on Sumatra island, leaving 11 individuals still missing.
Late on Friday, tons of mud, rocks, and trees cascaded down from a mountain, triggered by torrential rain. The debris reached a nearby river, causing it to burst its banks and sweep through mountainside villages near Lake Toba in the North Sumatra province.
In their search for the deceased and missing, rescue teams employed a range of resources, including excavators, dogs, and even their bare hands. The worst-hit village required extensive rubble shifting. Additionally, divers equipped with sonar detection were deployed to scour Lake Toba for potential victims who may have been swept away.
Late on Saturday, a mud-covered body was discovered on the lakeside, approximately 500 meters from the severely damaged Senior Bakara Hotel. The individual was identified as an employee of the hotel.
According to the National Disaster Management Agency, the landslide and flash floods caused significant damage to at least 35 houses, a church, a school, and the aforementioned hotel in the village of Simangulampe. As a result, approximately 55 families were forced to seek refuge in a temporary government shelter.
Indonesia, an archipelago consisting of 17,000 islands, experiences frequent flooding and landslides during the rainy season from October to March. Many residents live in mountainous regions or near fertile flood plains, making them particularly vulnerable to such natural disasters.
Lake Toba, spanning an impressive 1,145 square kilometers, is a renowned tourist destination on Sumatra island. Formed from an ancient super volcano, the lake is one of Indonesia’s ten breathtaking natural attractions that the government aims to develop as enticing destinations for international tourists.
The recovery efforts continue as authorities work tirelessly to locate the missing individuals and provide support to those affected by this devastating natural disaster.