Flash floods that struck parts of North Luwu District, South Sulawesi Province, claimed 24 lives and rendered 69 others missing, according to latest data of the local Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD).
"Rescue efforts today focus on searching for missing people. Based on the available data, 69 people are missing, while 24 people were found dead," Head of North Luwu BPBD Muslim Muchtar noted in a press statement here on Thursday.
The BPBD and the Search and Rescue Office have deployed personnel to find the missing residents, he remarked.
On Monday (July 13), floods hit the sub-districts of Masamba, Sabbang, Baebunta, South Baebunta, Malangke and West Malangke in North Luwu.
The floods swamped 4,930 homes, swept away 10 houses, and damaged a bridge. As many as 213 houses, a military office, and roads were buried in sand and mud.
The flooding affected 4,202 families consisting of 15,994 people and compelled 156 families comprising 655 people to flee to higher grounds.
The displaced people sought refuge in 39 areas in North Luwu, while the local government has built 20 temporary shelters for flood victims.
Flood victims are still in need of food assistance for the next two or three days as well as portable sanitation devices and heavy equipment to clean the flood-affected areas.
The natural disaster has damaged several infrastructure and facilities, such as roads and electricity poles.
The flood victims are in dire need of food and other relief aid as well as portable sanitation facilities and portable emergency lamps, as the flood-hit district is frequently hit by power outages.
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Editor : Mahdani
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