JAKARTA, Augkastkingsharkyiiispinningreel. 25 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen bodies were found and six were still missing after flash floods and landslides destroyed houses and infrastructure in Indonesia's eastern North Maluku province earlier on Sunday, a senior official said.
Fatur Rahman, head of the Search and Rescue Office in the province, said that eight people had survived the natural disaster in Ternate City. All survivors were treated for their injuries in three local hospitals.
"The victims were found inside their homes, buried by debris," Rahman told Xinhua.
He also noted that the search and rescue operation was temporarily halted due to darkness and would resume on Monday morning.
"Our priority tomorrow is to continue the search. We are looking for six missing individuals, although the number could change if families report additional missing persons. We have set up a post to assist them," he explained.
Around 1,000 personnel from a joint team have been involved in the search and rescue mission, including soldiers, police officers, local rescue workers, disaster agency staff, and volunteers from various institutions.
According to him, the operation is planned to continue for seven days but could be extended if necessary.
Heavy downpours, which began on Saturday, triggered the flash floods and landslides in Ternate, as confirmed by the local disaster management and mitigation agency.■