In Indonesia's North Maluku province, devastating floods have claimed thirteen lives and injured two others following heavy rainfall that began on Saturday. The floods have wreaked havoc across the region, particularly in Ternate city, where ten houses have been severely damaged.Â
The National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB), the country's disaster management authority, has issued urgent warnings to local residents about the potential for further severe weather. BNPB has highlighted the possibility of continued heavy rain over the next few days and stressed the importance of remaining alert and following official guidance to avoid additional harm.
"We urge people to remain vigilant and adhere to instructions from authorities to stay safe and mitigate the impact of any potential subsequent floods," said BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari in a statement.
The agency has dispatched teams to assist with evacuations and support relief efforts. Concurrently, the search and rescue agency Basarnas is working diligently to reach individuals affected by landslides and debris carried by the floodwaters. These rescue operations are ongoing and are being complicated by the challenging conditions on the ground.
The recent floods in North Maluku follow a tragic incident in May when flash floods and mudslides in West Sumatra led to over sixty fatalities. This pattern of extreme weather events highlights the urgent need for robust disaster preparedness and management strategies to protect vulnerable communities and minimize the impact of future disasters.
Â
