Sumatra flood death toll rises to 57, with 22 missing

AGAM, Indonesia - Rescuers recovered more bodies on May 14 after flash floods and a cold lava flow on Indonesia's Sumatra island over the weekend killed at least 57 people and left another 22 missing, provincial officials said.

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Hours of heavy rain caused large volcanic rocks to roll down Mount Marapi, one of Indonesia's most active volcanos, into two of the worst-hit districts on Sumatra island on the evening of May 11, while flooding roads, homes and mosques.

"To date, 57 victims have been found dead," Mr Ilham Wahab, a West Sumatra disaster mitigation agency official, told AFP, adding that 22 people were still missing.

Workers cleaned up damaged buildings after the deluge while rescuers deployed a thermal drone to help the search, using excavators and their bare hands to try to find survivors in the rivers and rubble.

"For the emergency response, heavy equipment has moved to clean up the disaster areas. And after this, we will go to shelters to ensure affected communities are served well," national disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) chief Suharyanto told reporters on May 14.

More than 3,300 people have evacuated from the affected areas, according to the authorities.

They warned that the death toll could rise further as the search for those missing continued.