Rescuers find a body in Central Sulawesi

id flooding ,Central Sulawesi

Rescuers find a body in Central Sulawesi

Palu, Central Sulawesi (ANTARA) - Rescuers found the body of a Sigi resident four days after he was reported missing following the flooding that hit the district in Central Sulawesi.

The victim, 90-year-old Bado, a resident of Bangga Village, Dolo Selatan Sub-district, had been swept away by the flooding on April 27, 2019, Basrano, head of the Palu search and rescue office, said here on Wednesday.

Bado was in his garden in Tuva village in Gumbasa Sub-district, when the flood struck him and carried him away. His body, which was found in a river bank of Omu Village, Gumbasa, took three hours to be shifted as it was stuck under a pile of logs and mud, Basrano said.

Sigi was hit by a flash flood on Saturday night, compelling residents to evacuate to higher ground. "It (the flash flood) struck last night. Some of the families were evacuated only at dawn (on Sunday)," Rizal, a resident of Bangga Village, remarked on Monday.

Rizal revealed that along with his kin, he had taken shelter on the roof of his house when the flash flood struck. They then evacuated to higher ground at dawn on Monday.

The flood struck at lightning speed and Rizal was unable to salvage his household belongings.

The floodwaters, carrying mud and logs, originated from Bangga River that overflowed its bank and inundated nearly all parts of the hamlets.

"Only the roofs of the submerged houses were visible," he pointed out.

The flood waters subsided and rescuers returned to the SAR office in Palu on Wednesday.