Monsoon floods rip through Sumatra, leaving at least 10 dead and dozens missing

Torrential monsoon rains have triggered destructive floods and landslides across Indonesia’s Sumatra island, killing at least 10 people and leaving dozens unaccounted for as rescue teams struggle to reach isolated communities.

Days of nonstop rainfall since Monday caused rivers in North Sumatra province to overflow, unleashing torrents of mud, rocks and uprooted trees that tore through villages in six regencies. Authorities say damaged roads, unstable slopes and continuing downpours are slowing emergency operations and making access to remote areas increasingly difficult.

The worst damage has been reported in the coastal city of Sibolga, where five bodies and three injured survivors have been recovered. Search teams are still looking for four missing residents as assessments continue. In neighbouring Central Tapanuli, landslides crushed several homes, killing at least four members of one family, while severe flooding submerged nearly 2,000 houses and public buildings.

Further south in South Tapanuli, floods and falling trees claimed the life of another resident and left one more injured. A bridge in Mandailing Natal district was destroyed, cutting off nearby communities, and at least 470 homes have been inundated.

On Nias island, rescuers reported that thick mud and debris have blocked the main road linking several villages, further complicating relief efforts as authorities race against time to locate missing residents and deliver aid to those cut off by the disaster.