Severe flash floods hit the Indonesian city of Padang on Wednesday evening (August 18) blocking major roads and causing misery for commuters.

Footage showed motorists wading through thigh-high water as they attempted to cross inundated highways.

According to the Disaster Management Agency, the flooding was also affecting hospitals and filling stations.

An official from the agency said thousands of residents were trapped by the flooding and the police and army were carrying out evacuations.

For hours the city of Padang, Indonesia was hit by heavy rain on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, the main road of the city of Padang at kilometer 15 was completely paralyzed due to flooding and heavy water which closed two roads.

cars and motorcycles that were desperate to break through puddles of water experienced engine failure and were helped by local residents.

one of the residents, Tobi said "the flooding occurred from 18.00 until the evening which made traffic flow paralyzed and impassable due to the one meter high flooded road section".

Besides that, based on the information center of the Padang City Disaster Management Agency, it said "not only crippling roads, but also making filling stations flooded and hospitals and thousands of residents scattered in Padang City being trapped by floods," said Sutan Hendra.

Until now, the entire disaster management team, police and army are trying to evacuate a number of residents caught in the flood with rubber boats, such as in the Lubuk crocodile area, springs, Lareh river and others... which have a height of one to three meters.