At least 26 people have died and 11 are missing due to floods and landslides caused by torrential rains in recent days on the island of Sumatra, in the western part of Indonesia. The water overflowing from various swollen rivers has flooded several villages and caused mudslides, especially in the areas of Pesisir Selatan and Padang Pariaman, in the province of West Sumatra.
The national disaster management agency said rescue efforts were hampered by extensive damage to roads and bridges, as well as mud, debris and frequent electricity outages. A spokesperson for the agency said that heavy rains in the province have submerged more than 37 thousand buildings: at least 17 houses have been destroyed by floods and mudslides, while more than 650 have been damaged.