Over a dozen individuals have lost their lives due to floods and landslides on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, following torrential rains that started last Thursday. The disaster struck the Luwu District in South Sulawesi, where heavy rainfall resulted in a deadly landslide and significant flooding, submerging 13 sub-districts under water up to three meters high.

Local rescue operations, led by chief Mexianus Bekabel and National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari, have reported that more than 1,000 houses have been affected, with 42 entirely swept away. Over 100 people have been evacuated to safer locations such as mosques and homes of relatives outside the flooded area.

The region, known for its vulnerability to such natural disasters due to its geographical and climatic conditions, continues to face severe challenges as the heavy rains persist. Just last month, similar conditions led to landslides in the Tana Toraja district of South Sulawesi, which resulted in 20 fatalities.

The disaster has prompted response efforts from authorities who are aiding the affected communities and bolstering rescue operations with the use of rubber boats and various vehicular assistance to mitigate further impact.