Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 10:20am on 13 May 2024,Monday International
At least 41 people have been killed and 17 others are missing after flash floods and "cold lava" mudslides hit the western Indonesian island of Sumatra. Heavy rain on Saturday triggered torrents of ash and rocks to flow down Mount Marapi, the most active volcano in Sumatra, inundating two districts and damaging over 100 homes, mosques, and public facilities. The mudslides, known as "cold lava" or "lahar," are a deadly mixture of volcanic material and pebbles that flow down a volcano's slopes in the rain, with temperatures ranging from 0°C to 100°C. Survivors described fleeing in terror as the "cold lava" flowed towards their homes, with one resident, Rina Devina, recounting how she used her cellphone as a torch to navigate the muddy road and escape the disaster. Rescuers have recovered 28 bodies so far, with many still missing, and the search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
