Rescue officials reported on Sunday that flash floods and cool lava flow from a volcano had killed at least 12 people, including many children, and left four more missing.
Following hours of intense rain, the tragedy struck the West Sumatra province’s Agam and Tanah Datar districts at roughly 10:30 p.m. (1530 GMT) on Saturday, causing a flash flood and a frigid lava flow from Mount Marapi, according to Basarnas Search and Rescue.
Volcanic debris such as ash, sand, and stones that are swept down a volcano’s slopes by rain is called cold lava, or lahar.
“Twelve people died and they had been taken to the hospital… and four other people are still being searched in Agam district,” head of the local rescue agency Abdul Malik said in a statement Sunday.
Nine bodies have been identified, including those of a three-year-old and eight-year-old, he said.
“Today, we will continue the search in the two districts.”
In order to locate the missing victims and move people to shelters, authorities sent out rubber boats and a crew of rescuers.
In various locations throughout the two districts, the local authorities established emergency posts and evacuation centers.
During the rainy season, landslides and floods are common in Indonesia.
After West Sumatra experienced floods and landslides in March, at least 26 bodies have been discovered.
Moreover, cold lava from Mount Marapi, the most active volcano in Sumatra and one of the almost 130 active volcanoes in the Indonesian archipelago, was transported down by Saturday’s floodwaters in Agam and Tanah Datar.
Taller than the volcano itself, Marapi erupted in December and threw a tower of ash 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) into the air.
The explosion claimed the lives of at least 24 climbers, the most of them were college students.
