Flash Floods Kill 14 on Indonesia's Siau Island

Flash floods triggered by heavy rains swept through Siau island in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province on Monday, killing at least 14 people and leaving four others missing as rescue operations continued into Tuesday.

The disaster struck the Siau Tagulandang Biaro region early in the morning, when intense rainfall caused rivers to overflow and inundate four towns on the small island north of Sulawesi. Local rescue agency spokesperson Nuriadin Gumeleng reported that 16 rescuers had been deployed to search for the missing individuals, with 18 people injured in the flooding. "We continue to collect data from local residents in case there are more missing people," Gumeleng said.

Authorities evacuated at least 444 residents to nearby schools and churches for safety. The national disaster mitigation agency confirmed the toll and noted that main roads remained blocked by rocks, debris, and thick mud as of Tuesday. Teams deployed excavators to clear the paths and restore access. The floods damaged hundreds of houses, government buildings, and infrastructure, including public facilities, according to North Sulawesi Governor Yulius Selvanus.

The sudden surge in river water levels caught...