The disaster struck Pesisir Selatan regency, forcing more than 75,000 people to evacuate. A village on a hillside was particularly hard-hit, with landslides and floods isolating around 200 families.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with 150 personnel from disaster organizations searching for the missing. While floodwaters have receded, landslides have made access to some areas difficult.

This incident is not an isolated one. At least three people died in Padang Pariaman regency due to overflowing rivers and landslides caused by heavy rains earlier this week.

Indonesia faces a heightened risk of landslides during its rainy season, with deforestation further exacerbating the problem.  Flooding is also a common occurrence in the archipelago nation.

This comes just months after a landslide and floods near Lake Toba on Sumatra killed at least two people in December. (ILKHA)