1 killed, 7 missing as flash floods strike Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara

Flash floods hitting Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara province on Sunday afternoon left at least one person dead and seven others missing, a rescuer said on Monday morning.

The natural disaster struck Wera sub-district of Bima regency, sweeping away seven houses, collapsing one bridge, and cutting off electricity, said Saidar Rahmanjaya, head of the operational unit of the provincial search and rescue office.

"One woman was found dead in Wora village of Wera sub-district this morning. Our search and rescue mission targets seven people who were reported missing," Rahmanjaya told Xinhua over the phone.

The operation involved soldiers, policemen, personnel of the local search and rescue office, local disaster management and mitigation agency, and volunteers, he added.

Heavy rains triggered the flash floods as the waters in rivers overflowed the river banks on Sunday afternoon in Wera sub-district, according to him.

The Indonesian meteorology and geophysics agency has warned of extreme weather prompting heavy rains, strong winds, and large waves.

xinhua