Cold lava flows leave 41 dead in Indonesia – Diario La Página – 2024-05-14 04:21:24

At least 41 people died and 17 remain missing due to flooding and cold lava flows from the Mount Marapi volcano, on the island of Sumatra, in western Indonesia, according to a new report released Monday by the local disaster agency.

“Last night’s data was 37 fatalities… But since this morning it increased again, the number reached 41 (deaths),” said Ilham Wahab, an official with the West Sumatra disaster mitigation agency, adding that the rescuers They were looking for 17 missing people.

The drama occurred on Saturday around 10:30 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. GMT), in the west of the island of Sumatra.

Three people are missing in Agam district and 14 in Tanah Datar, the areas most affected by the floods and where hundreds of thousands of people live, Ilham said.

Torrential rain sent large volcanic rocks and cold lava rolling down one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes on Saturday night, while roads, homes and mosques were flooded.

Cold lava is magma formed by the various materials that make up the walls of a volcano: ash, sand and rocks. Under the effects of rain, these can mix and flow along the crater.

The local government opened evacuation centers and emergency care posts in several areas of the two districts, while rescuers, police, military and volunteers participate in the search efforts.

The national disaster mitigation agency said 84 houses, 16 bridges and two mosques were damaged in Tanah Datar, as well as 20 hectares of rice fields.

«I heard thunder and a noise similar to that of boiling water. “It was the sound of large stones falling,” she told AFP Rina Devina, a housewife, who confirmed the death of three of her neighbors.