The death toll from landslides in North Sumatra, Indonesia, has risen to 27

JAKARTA: The death toll from floods triggered by heavy rains in western Indonesia has risen to 27 after vehicles buried in a landslide– said a representative of the rescue services on Thursday (November 28).

Floods and landslides hit four districts of North Sumatra province over the weekend, killing at least 20 people, according to the country’s disaster agency.

The latest landslide hit a remote road in Deli Serdang district of North Sumatra province on Tuesday after heavy rains.

“As of today, seven people have died in a landslide in Sembahe (village),” Sariman Sitorus, a spokesman for the local search and rescue agency, told AFP.

He added that several of the dead were rescued from a tourist bus that was passing through the area when the landslide occurred.

Heavy equipment was dispatched to assist in the search.

At least 16 people were injured in the landslide, Sariman said, citing data from a nearby hospital.

During the rainy season, usually from November to April, landslides occur in Indonesia, but in recent years other disasters have occurred outside this time of year due to unfavorable weather.

In May, at least 67 people died when a mixture of ash, sand and pebbles from the eruption of Mount Marapi in western Sumatra spilled into residential areas, causing flash floods.