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Flash flood on Indonesia’s eastern Ternate Island leaves 13 dead

Dozens of houses and buildings in Rua village in North Maluku province were buried in mud.

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Rescuers and villagers search for missing people following a flash flood on Indonesia's Ternate Island

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

The deluge cut off the main road and access to the village of Rua in North Maluku province, the hardest-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.

Indonesia Flash Floods
Rescuers and villagers search for those missing after a flash flood killed a number of people in Rua village on Indonesia’s Ternate Island (Rifki Anwar/AP)

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said 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 rain causes frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia, where millions live in mountainous areas and near floodplains.

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