Search and rescue workers encountered difficulties in reaching the affected villages owing to hindered access to the disaster-hit areas, according to Acting Malaka District Head Viktor Manek.
The district government is striving to evacuate those severely affected by the floods in the midst of extreme weather, sparked by Tropical Cyclone Seroja, Manek noted here on Monday.
The tropical cyclone's seeds were detected since April 2 and triggered heavy rainfall and high waves. Effects of the cyclone were felt in most areas of East Nusa Tenggara.
Apart from affecting Malaka District, this extreme weather phenomenon was also experienced by those in the districts of Flores Timur, Lembata, and Sumba Timur, as well as Kupang City.
Meanwhile, Deputy Head of Flores Timur District Agus Payong Boli had stated earlier that some 62 residents in his district lost their lives in the flash floods.
Some 56 of the 62 flood victims were the residents of Nelelalamadike Village in Ileboleng Sub-district, while six others were the residents of Wotanulumado Sub-district.
Search and rescue workers are making ongoing efforts to locate four other residents that reportedly became untraceable, Boli remarked.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that apart from causing fatalities, flooding also compelled several hundred residents to seek refuge in safer places.
The agency confirmed that as of Monday at 5 a.m. local time, a total of 256 displaced residents were accommodated at Nelemawangi Village's hall.
The disaster mitigation agency confirmed that several other residents were offered shelter at the Nelelamadike Village hall.
Flash floods submerged nine villages in the sub-districts of Ile Boleng, Adonara Timur, Wotan Ulu Mado, and Adonara Barat, Flores Timur District, on Sunday.
The affected villages are Nelemadike, Nelemawangi, Waiburak, Waiwerang, Oyang Barang, Pandai, Duwanur, Waiwadan, and Daniboa.
The debris carried during the flash floods not only claimed the lives of numerous villagers but also destroyed and damaged 77 houses and led to the collapse of five bridges.
The Flores Timur disaster mitigation agency confirmed that extreme weather coupled with a shortage of backhoes had hindered its rescue and evacuation efforts. Related news: Undertake prompt mitigation efforts in East Flores floods: Jokowi
Related news: District government confirms 62 deaths in Flores Timur's flash floods
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Translator: Desi P, B.Tokan, Rahmad
Editor: Suharto
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