Papua, Indonesia – A new humanitarian tragedy has struck the eastern Indonesian province of Papua. Fifteen people have died after being swept away by a raging river following torrential rains in the region over the past few hours.
The Indonesian disaster management agency stated in an official statement that the victims were among a group of local residents. They were surprised by a sudden rise in water levels while near the riverbank, which swept them away by the strong current before rescue teams could reach them.
Authorities confirmed that search and rescue operations are ongoing. There are fears that more people may be missing. They also noted that heavy rains and landslides are hampering rescue efforts. These teams are working in rugged and difficult-to-access terrain.
Papua province is prone to flash floods and torrential rains due to its mountainous terrain and frequent tropical rainfall. Authorities have urged residents to avoid riverbeds and valleys during this period of unstable weather.
