The death toll from the cold lava floods in West Sumatra Province of Indonesia has risen to 57, with 22 people still missing, a senior official of a local disaster agency said on Tuesday evening.

The cold lava floods on Saturday night, which were triggered by rains, destroyed buildings, roads and other infrastructure facilities in the regencies of Tanah Datar, Agam and Pariaman, and Padang Panjang town.

The rescuers have been carrying out operations using both heavy machinery and hand tools. They found several more bodies on Tuesday, bringing the total fatalities to 57. So far, the 22 people reported missing would be the target of the search and rescue operation, according to head of the rehabilitation and reconstruction unit of disaster management and mitigation agency of West Sumatra Province Ilham Wahab.

The official said that the rescuers would focus on the estuaries of the rivers as several bodies were already found in the areas. On land, the focus would be the spots where the victims were suspected to be buried by the cold lava, he added.

He noted that experts would consider the option of relocating the residents during the reconstruction and rehabilitation projects.

Under the influence of El Nino, the rainy season in Indonesia lasted longer than usual this year, resulting in frequent disasters such as flash floods and landslides.

SHOTLIST:

West Sumatra, Indonesia - May 14, 2024
1. Various of mud, debris on ground; people walking, clearing sludge with shovels;
2. Various of excavator working in ruins;
3. Various of rescuers working with shovels, other tools in ruins;
4. Various of rubble, debris, damaged motorbike after flood;
5. Truck carrying debris, moving on road.

[Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]