Indonesia: Emergency services responding to deadly landslide on Sulawesi Island, April 14

Response operations are ongoing following a landslide in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, April 14. heavy rains reportedly affected two villages in the region, destroying buildings and roads. Authorities report 14 people have died, and another three are still missing. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing.

The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) has forecast further light rain in South Sulawesi through April 14. Further scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms could trigger additional landslides and flooding, as well as hamper ongoing response operations. This is the third such incident affecting Indonesia within a month, following similar episodes in Central Java and West Sumatra in March.

Tana Toraja is located approximately 300 km (186 miles) north of the provincial capital, Makassar.

Sustained heavy rainfall could trigger additional landslides and flooding in low-lying communities near rivers, streams, and creeks. Urban flooding is also possible in developed areas with easily overwhelmed stormwater drainage systems. Sites located downstream from large reservoirs or rivers may be subject to flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall. Landslides are possible in hilly or mountainous areas, especially where the soil has become saturated by heavy rainfall.

Authorities could issue mandatory evacuation orders for landslide- or flood-prone communities over the coming days. Disruptions to electricity and telecommunications services are possible where significant flooding or landslides impact utility networks.

Floodwaters and debris flows will likely render some bridges, rail networks, or roadways impassable, impacting overland travel in and around affected areas. Ponding on road surfaces could cause hazardous driving conditions on regional highways. Authorities could temporarily close some low-lying routes that become inundated by floodwaters. Flooding could block regional rail lines; freight and passenger train delays and cancellations are likely in areas that see heavy rainfall and potential track inundation.

Localized business disruptions will likely occur in low-lying areas; some businesses might not operate at full capacity because of flood damage to facilities, possible evacuations, and some employees' inability to reach work sites.