BNPB Disaster Data and Communication Head Abdul Muhari said Wednesday the local government issued a Hydrometeorological Disaster Emergency Response Status from Jan. 5 to 18, 2026.
The status, outlined in Sitaro District Head Decree Number 1/2026, allows authorities to accelerate emergency response in the affected areas, he added.
Muhari said rescue efforts are ongoing, with teams prioritizing missing persons and meeting the basic needs of affected residents.
As of Tuesday afternoon, BNPB confirmed 16 deaths, three missing persons, and multiple injuries after the flash flood struck early Monday morning.
The floods were triggered by heavy rain that caused rivers to overflow at about 2:30 a.m., impacting East, Central, West, and Southwest Siau sub-districts.
Hundreds of residents were evacuated to safer locations under the supervision of joint emergency teams, Muhari said.
Preliminary reports show 682 people displaced. Five fatalities have been formally identified, while authorities continue to confirm others.
At least 22 residents were treated at local health centers, and two were referred to hospitals in Manado for further medical care.
Seven houses were swept away, and more than 120 homes sustained damage ranging from light to severe.
Floods also damaged roads, public buildings, and other critical infrastructure, hampering access and recovery efforts.
Muhari emphasized that emergency management remains intensive, with search-and-rescue operations continuing and authorities coordinating relief distribution to affected communities.
The agency urged residents to remain vigilant, citing ongoing heavy rainfall and the potential for additional flash floods in the region.
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Translator: M. Riezko Bima, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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