Flash floods and landslides on Indonesia's Sumatra Island leaves 10 dead and others missing

Seasonal rain from October to March cause frequent flooding and landlines in the country and rescue teams were working to reach areas affected by the rains on Tuesday, November 25

At least 10 people have been killed and six others reported missing after torrential rains caused flash floods and landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island.

Rescue teams were working to reach areas affected by monsoon rains in parts of Indonesia's the North Sumatra province. River banks had burst, strewing debris and ripping through villages in the six affected regencies.

Rescuers has recovered at least five bodies and three injured people from the Sibolga city. Four people were killed in the neighbouring Central Tapanuli district, while one person died in South Tapanuli district after being hit by a tree uprooted by the floods and landslides.

AP reported that Sibolga police chief Eddy Inganta said emergency shelters had been set up and authorities urged residents in high-risk zones to evacuate immediately.

“Bad weather and mudslides hampered the rescue operation,” Inganta said.

Seasonal rain from October to March cause frequent flooding and landlines in the country.

Indonesia is the world's largest island country and millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile floodplains of the 17,000-island archipelago.

The flooding from Tuesday, November 25, took place on the same day the National Disaster Mitigation Agency declared the official end of relief efforts in two areas of Indonesia’s Java island after 10 days of operations, AP reported.

More than 1,000 rescue workers searched for people buried in landslides caused by torrential rain - 38 people were killed.