13 people have now died in floods and landslides in North Sulawesi province, Indonesia. There are still 2 people missing. Some reports claim there are as many as 40,000 people that have now evacuated their homes to escape the flood waters.
As FloodList reported yesterday, the main affected areas are Manado and Minahasa. As much as 145 mm of rain fell in 24 hours in Manado on 14 January. Water was said to be at least waist deep in some areas of the city. The heavy rainfall has also caused many landslides in the mountainous areas. Landslides have been reported on Sangihe island which have buried or damaged several houses. Other areas have also since been affected, including Tomohon, Minahasa Utara and Minahasa.
The 40,000 displaced have moved to safer, higher ground, or found some form of temporary accommodation. Some evacuations and rescues have been aided by police, soldiers and volunteers. Emergency supplies including food, blankets and medical supplies, have been sent to the affected areas.
According to Channel News Asia
Environmentalists blame logging and a failure to reforest denuded land for exacerbating the floods.
The floods and landslides have come after several days of heavy rainfall in the region and further rain is expected. It is understood that the severe weather is a result of two low pressure weather systems in the region – one currently causing so many problems in areas of the Philippines, the other currently over northern Australia.
