Rescuers have retrieved two more bodies from a tourist bus engulfed by a landslide on Indonesia's Sumatra island, raising the death toll to nine, officials confirmed. The disaster, stemming from intense rainfall, is part of a broader pattern of severe landslides and floods that have claimed at least 20 lives in the region this week. The affected bus was traveling on the main road from Medan to Berastagi in North Sumatra province, and was covered by debris and trees.
The situation remains dire as Muji Ediyanto from the North Sumatra Regional Police noted that several vehicles, along with their passengers, are still ensnared by landslide debris. "It will take at least two days to evacuate them," he stated, highlighting the challenges posed by fallen trees and persistent landslide remnants. More than 10 individuals sustained injuries and were transported to Medan for medical treatment as rescue efforts continue.
This week's tragic incidents in North Sumatra, including fatalities from flash floods and landslides at four different locations, underscore the regular threat of natural disasters during Indonesia's rainy season, lasting from October through March. Indonesia, an archipelago consisting of roughly 17,000 islands, frequently faces landslides and floods due to its topography, with many residents living in mountainous areas or on fertile flood plains. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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