January 7, 2026 | 04:50 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sixteen people are confirmed dead following flash floods in the Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi, early Monday, January 5, 2025.
In addition to the fatalities, three people remain missing as of Tuesday, January 6, 2025, at 14:00 Western Indonesian Time (WIB). Search operations continue while hundreds of residents have moved to evacuation centers.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) data shows five of the deceased are identified, with others still being processed. Additionally, 22 people sustained injuries and are receiving care at local health centers; two others were transferred to Manado hospitals for specialized treatment.
"The number of temporary evacuees is recorded at around 682 people, and this figure is continuously being updated," said Abdul Muhari, Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, in a statement on Wednesday, January 7, 2025.
Muhari stated flash floods followed heavy rainfall that began early Monday, triggering a river overflow at 02:30 Central Indonesian Time (WITA).
The disaster struck four districts: East Siau, Central Siau, West Siau, and South West Siau, impacting two urban and six rural villages.
Regarding infrastructure, Muhari noted the floods washed away seven houses, heavily damaged 29, and lightly damaged 112. Road access is severed in several areas, with damage reported to offices and public facilities. "Assessment of the material losses is still being carried out by field officers," he said.
Emergency response teams from the Sitaro Regency and North Sulawesi provincial agencies are coordinating with Basarnas, the military, the police, and volunteers. Efforts focus on locating the missing and evacuating residents. "Emergency aid has also been distributed to the affected communities to meet the basic needs of the evacuees," he said.
The local government declared a Hydro-meteorological Disaster Emergency Response Status for 14 days, effective January 5 to January 18, 2026, under Sitaro Regent's Decision Number 1 of 2026.
Field operations currently prioritize search efforts and logistics for the displaced. "The BNPB continues to monitor the situation and urges the public to remain cautious of the potential for extreme weather that may still occur in the North Sulawesi region," he said.
Read: At Least 16 Dead as Subsequent Flood Hits Parts of North Sulawesi
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