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Floods, Landslides Strike Indonesia’s Tourist Destination in North Sumatera

Floods that were triggered by heavy rain hit a small town of Parapat, Simalungun regency in Indonesia’s North Sumatera province on Thursday, May 13.

Some villages along the Siantar-Parapat Trans-Sumatera roads were not only inundated by floodwaters but also covered by mud after landslides hit the areas, which paralyzed traffic on several streets.

Simalungun Police chief Senior Adjunct Police Commissioner (AKBP) Agus Waluyo said police personnel have been deployed to clean up the affected areas.

“Currently, it is being handled by our police members. I am on my way to the scene. The roads in the affected areas are temporarily closed as they are prone to landslides,” Tribun Medan quoted Agus as saying on Thursday.

The floods occurred at 3:30 pm local time on a public holiday as the Muslim community celebrates Eid al-Fitr. Motorists were stuck on the roads, trying to turn back.

Some vehicles were swept away by the floods when passing Sisingamangaraja Street in the Parapat subdistrict. A small river that connects to Lake Toba, a popular tourist destination in North Sumatera, overflowed and the water passed over the bridge. Sisingamangaraja-Parapat Street was then also flooded.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/05/14/005350774/floods-landslides-strike-indonesias-tourist-destination-in-north-sumatera.