Rescuers and villagers search for missing people, following a flash...

Rescuers and villagers search for missing people, following a flash flood that killed a number of people in Rua, Ternate Island, Indonesia, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024. Credit: AP/Rifki Anwar

TERNATE ISLAND, Indonesia — Torrential rains caused a flash flood on Indonesia’s eastern Ternate Island, sweeping away residential areas and leaving 13 people dead on Sunday, officials said.

The deluges cut off the main road and access to the village of Rua in North Maluku province, the most hard-hit area, and buried dozens of houses and buildings under the mud. Search and rescue teams worked with locals to recover the bodies and look for those still missing.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency says high-intensity rain is still possible in the Ternate City area and its surroundings in the coming days. Local authorities advised residents to remain vigilant and heed instructions in case of further flooding.

Heavy rains cause frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia where millions live in mountainous areas and near floodplains.

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Tarigan reported from Jakarta, Indonesia.

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'Success is zero deaths on the roadway' Newsday reporters spent this year examining the risks on Long Island's roads, where traffic crashes over a decade killed more than 2,100 people and seriously injured more than 16,000. This documentary is a result of that newsroom-wide effort.

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