Seven killed in Sumatran landslide after torrential rains

Seven people were killed in a landslide triggered by torrential storms on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the authorities said, as they warned continuing rainfall could cause further ground movement on Friday (Oct 1).

A day after the landslide hit two adjacent houses in Padang Pariaman district on Wednesday, seven bodies were pulled out of the mud, while another person was rescued alive with broken bones.

“All victims have been found after we were able to use heavy equipment yesterday afternoon,” said local disaster mitigation agency official Rumainur, who like many Indonesians only has one name.

The authorities warned residents to stay vigilant because heavy rains in the area will continue until Saturday.

“Please beware of the danger of ground movement triggered by the rainfall,” National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Abdul Muhari said in a statement on Friday.

More than 300 houses and 80ha of rice fields in Padang Pariaman have been inundated.

Strong winds also damaged houses, kiosks and vehicles, and knocked down trees.

One person died and four others were injured when one tree fell on them as they were visiting a graveyard on Wednesday.

Local authorities have announced a state of emergency for 14 days and opened public kitchens.

In the West Sumatran provincial capital Padang, more than 400 people have been evacuated after heavy rain caused flooding in the city.

Fatal landslides and flash floods are common across Indonesia during the rainy season, which started in last month in Sumatra.

The disasters are often caused by deforestation and poor mitigation planning, according to environmentalists.

In April this year, more than 200 people were killed in a cluster of far-eastern islands in Indonesia and neighbouring Timor Leste as Tropical Cyclone Seroja turned small communities into wastelands of mud and uprooted trees.