Devastating flash floods, cold lava flow claim several lives in Indonesia’s Sumatra Island

Heavy rains triggered flash floods and unleashed torrents of cold lava and mud down the slopes of a volcano on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island last week, killing several people and leaving few others missing, according to officials.

The catastrophe occurred after monsoon rains and a significant mudslide, triggered by a cold lava flow from Mount Marapi, caused floods leading to devastation of mountainside villages across four districts in West Sumatra province just before midnight on Saturday. According to Guardian, the death toll stood at 41, while over a dozen people were missing.

Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the national disaster management agency, said that the floods swept away individuals and submerged more than 100 residences and structures, Guardian reported.

Rescue operations were initiated but were hindered as roads were also destroyed, further complicating the already challenging task of locating and assisting those affected by the disaster, Al-Jazeera reported.

Rescuers found 19 bodies in the hardest-hit village of Canduang in Agam district by Sunday afternoon. Nine more bodies were recovered in the neighboring district of Tanah Datar, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency, BBC reported.

Locals walk in an area affected by heavy rain brought flash floods and landslides as they are evacuated in Agam, West Sumatra province, Indonesia. (Photo: Reuters)

What is cold lava

Cold lava , also known as ‘lahar’ in local language, consitutes a mixture of volcanic material and pebbles that descends a volcano’s slope’s during rainfall. Cold lava can reach temperatures between 0°C and 100°C, but typically stays below 50°C. When moving, ‘lahar’ looks like a swirling mix of wet concrete and gathers debris as it moves.

Past tragedies due to floods, volcanic eruptions

Indonesia grapples with recurrent landslides and floods during its rainy seasons. In 2022, approximately 24,000 people were compelled to flee their homes, while two children died in floods on Sumatra island.

On December 5, 23 hikers lost their lives in a volcanic eruption, while in February, flash floods wreaked havoc on numerous homes in Tanah Datar.

Only last month, prolonged volcanic activity blanketed the skies with massive ash clouds, reaching heights of up to 2km. This led to widespread flight disruptions, road closures, and the mandatory evacuation of over 11,000 individuals.

With inputs from agencies

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