The death toll from floods and landslides in the Indonesian province of West Sumatra has risen to 32, the country's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (NDMA) reported on Tuesday. According to the agency, five of the province's 12 regencies declared a state of emergency as more than 1,500 houses, over 50 worship centers and more than 10 roads were damaged by floods and landslides. Triggered by torrential rain, floods and landslides hit West Sumatra last Thursday, forcing over 70,000 residents to flee to safer places. On Monday, warned that the casualty count could rise. Rescuers have recovered more bodies as the waters recede following flash floods and landslides caused by torrential monsoon rains. The flooding has submerged nine districts and cities in West Sumatra province since Thursday. Late on Friday, a large mudslide caused a river to breach its banks and tear through mountainside villages in Pesisir Selatan district. Relief efforts have been hampered by power outages, damaged bridges and roads blocked by thick mud and debris, the National Disaster Management Agency said. More bodies were recovered mostly in the worst-hit villages in Pesisir Selatan and the neighboring Padang Pariaman district. Fajar Sukma, an official from West Sumatra's disaster mitigation agency, said rescue efforts have also been hampered by extreme weather. "It is still raining today and rescuers are conducting the rescue operation in the middle of the rain," he said. "There's a possibility that the number of casualties will continue to rise as we update the report." Indonesia frequently experiences disasters during the rainy season. Heavy rains cause frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia, an archipelago nation of more than 17,000 islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near floodplains. — Agencies
