Days of monsoon rain caused rivers to overflow in North Sulawesi, producing fast-moving, debris-filled floods that killed at least 16 people and swept away homes on Siau island. Emergency teams supported by police and military responded to four devastated villages, though damaged roads and disrupted communications have hindered rescue work. Authorities say seven houses were destroyed, more than 140 homes damaged and over 680 people displaced; three people remain missing and 25 were injured. A 14-day emergency response period has been declared to speed aid, evacuations and repairs.
Flash Floods in North Sulawesi Kill At Least 16, Sweep Away Homes on Siau Island
In this photo released by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, rescuers and villagers search for victims after flash floods hit Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
MANADO, Indonesia — Flash floods triggered by days of torrential monsoon rain killed at least 16 people and swept away homes on Siau island in North Sulawesi province, officials said Tuesday.
Rivers overflowed early Monday, sending fast-moving torrents of water mixed with mud, rocks and debris down hillsides and through villages in Siau Tagulandang Biaro District, Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency, said. The surge inundated entire neighborhoods and carried people from their homes.
Emergency rescue teams supported by police and military units were dispatched to four of the hardest-hit villages. Access has been difficult in some areas because of damaged roads and disrupted communications, Muhari said.
In this photo released by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, rescuers and villagers search for victims after flash floods hit Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
At least seven houses were washed away and more than 140 homes were damaged. The deluge forced more than 680 residents into temporary shelters set up in churches and public buildings while crews conducted damage assessments, Muhari said.
As weather improved and waters began to recede on Tuesday, search teams recovered 16 bodies and continued searching for three additional people reported missing in neighborhoods that were inundated, Nuriadian Gumeleng, a spokesman for the North Sulawesi search and rescue office, said. The floods also injured 25 people.
Local Response and Warnings
Sitaro District Chief Chyntia Ingrid Kalangit declared a 14-day emergency response period starting Monday to accelerate delivery of aid, evacuations and repairs to infrastructure. "We call on residents to remain alert," Kalangit said, warning that further rainfall could trigger additional flooding or landslides. The provincial government has mobilized heavy equipment and relief supplies to support recovery efforts.
Wider Context
The National Disaster Management Agency noted the broader context of recent extreme weather in Indonesia: catastrophic floods and landslides in December on Sumatra — the country’s largest island — affected 52 cities and regencies, killing 1,178 people, injuring more than 7,000 and leaving 148 residents missing as of Tuesday.
What Officials Are Doing: Search-and-rescue teams, police and military units are conducting recovery and relief operations while authorities work to restore access and deliver aid to displaced residents.
Help us improve.
