10 killed, 10 missing in Indonesia flood disaster
A devastating series of flash floods and landslides has struck Indonesia’s West Papua province, leaving 10 people dead and 10 others missing, according to provincial rescue officials.
The disaster, triggered by days of heavy rainfall, hit the remote Gunung Arfak Regency on May 15, with difficult terrain and poor communication significantly delaying response efforts.
Yefri Sabaruddin, head of the provincial Search and Rescue Office, confirmed on Wednesday that rescuers recovered another body, raising the death toll to 10. “Our current priority is locating the 10 missing individuals,” Sabaruddin said, noting the hazardous conditions complicating efforts. “Treacherous weather, deep mud, and widespread debris are obstructing our search and rescue operations. We must remain alert to the risk of further flooding due to ongoing rainfall.”
Rescue operations are gaining support with the arrival of heavy equipment. One excavator is already on-site, with another expected Thursday to assist in clearing mud and debris. The remote region’s delayed communication initially slowed the mobilization of search teams, but efforts are now intensifying.
Local authorities warn that continued rainfall could trigger additional landslides, urging residents to stay vigilant. Emergency shelters and temporary aid stations have been established to support displaced communities. (ILKHA)
LEGAL WARNING: All rights of the published news, photos and videos are reserved by İlke Haber Ajansı Basın Yayın San. Trade A.Ş. Under no circumstances can all or part of the news, photos and videos be used without a written contract or subscription.
The International Press Institute (IPI), headquartered in Vienna, Austria, has awarded Palestinian journalist Mariam Abu Daqqa the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero Award, recognizing her courage and sacrifice in reporting from Gaza under extreme danger.
Two Palestinians were martyred on Friday evening after an Israeli drone strike targeted a group of civilians in central Gaza, in what local sources described as a flagrant breach of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has strongly condemned statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in which he declared that the agency “will have no role in relief operations in the Gaza Strip.”
Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque and head of the Higher Islamic Council in Jerusalem, has sounded a grave alarm over the escalating dangers facing Islam’s third holiest site as a result of continuous Israeli excavations beneath and around its compound.