A joint team of 535 rescue workers was deployed for the search mission, which entered its fourth day on Tuesday, head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas)-Medan Office, Budiono, said.
They were divided into three groups to expand the search area, he informed, adding that they were equipped with drones, mountaineering gear, diving equipment, a backhoe, and a landing craft.
Ten more people in the disaster zone of Simangulampe village in Baktiraja sub-district remained missing, while two others were found dead and evacuated, he said.
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Tiamin Boru Sinambela (78) was found dead on Monday (December 4), while the body of Boru Lubis was located on Saturday (December 2), he added.
The disaster also damaged 41 houses in the affected village.
ANTARA has reported that some regions in North Sumatra are vulnerable to natural disasters, including flooding and landslides.
In November 2020, for instance, landslides triggered by torrential heavy rains affected 42 houses in Nagori Bayu Muslimin village in Simalungun district.
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Translator: Anggi LP, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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