in Sumatra island of Indonesia
took the lives of many people.
Heavy rains on Indonesia's
Sumatra island last week caused
flash floods and torrents of cooled
lava and mud gushed down the
slopes of a volcano, killing several
people and leaving some others
missing.
The disaster occurred after
monsoon rains and a flow of cooled
lava from Mount Marapi caused a
significant landslide, which flooded
and devastated mountain villages
in four districts of West Sumatra
province. The death toll stood at 41,
while more than a dozen people
were missing.
National Disaster Management
Agency spokesman Abdul Muhari
said people were swept away and
more than 100 houses and
structures were submerged in the
floods. Rescue operations were
launched, but were hampered as
roads were also destroyed, further
complicating the already
challenging task of locating and
assisting those affected by the
disaster.
Cooled lava, also known as 'Lahar'
in the local language, is a mixture
of volcanic material and pebbles
that flows down the slopes of a
volcano during rainfall. Cooled lava
can reach temperatures between
0°C and 100°C, but usually remains
below 50°C. When moving, the
'ripple' resembles a swirling
mixture of wet concrete and
collects debris as it moves.
Indonesia suffers from frequent
landslides and floods during the
rainy season. In 2022, about 24,000
people were forced to flee their
homes, while two children died in
floods on the island of Sumatra.
A volcanic eruption on 5 December
killed 23 hikers, while a flash flood
in February wreaked havoc on
many homes in Tanah Datar. Just
last month, prolonged volcanic
activity covered the sky with
massive ash clouds, reaching
heights of up to 2 km.
