Landslide kills four people in N. Sulawesi

Yongker Rumthe, The Jakarta Post, Manado

Landslides and floods that hit several villages in the regency of Sangihe Talaud in North Sulawesi between last Wednesday and Saturday killed four people, destroyed 62 houses and forced hundreds to seek refuge.

Mudflows from the Karangetan volcano have worsened the situation, disrupting daily life in the regencies of Sangihe Talaud and on the island of Siau.

The head of the East Siau district, Heddy Janis, told The Jakarta Post by telephone on Saturday that four villages, including Apengsimbeka, Tahuna, Pokol and Ulung Peliang, were the most severely affected by landslides.

"But it was the volcanic mudflow that destroyed the houses of the Siau Island residents. Four people were killed by the volcanic mudflow," said Janis, adding that those killed had been identified as Honder Abas, 27, Abrael Teguhihide, 45, Bertha Sangke, 47 and Jemmy Sasiang, 2.

"The 62 houses buried by the mud are located in the villages of Malale, Tarorane and Bebali," he said.

According to Janis, Sangihe Talaud Regent Th. Makaminan had visited families sheltering in temporary camps and given them food and medicine.

Meanwhile the secretary of the Sangihe Talaud regent Junus Liusanda said that records of the damage caused by the disaster had been collated, adding that several roads and bridges had been destroyed. "We will ask the North Sulawesi provincial administration for help."

In Tahuna alone, the capital of Sangihe Talaud regency, several roads had been damaged by landslides, he said.

"Many segments of the main road, which stretches hundreds of kilometers connecting Tahuna with the towns of Tamako and Manganitu have also been damaged. Huge piles of soil are covering other stretches of the road, cutting off several villages."