At least 41 dead, as flash floods and cold lava flow hit Indonesia’s Sumatra island

Heavy rain triggers flash floods and cold lava flow from Indonesia's active volcano, Mount Marapi, killing 41 people and leaving 17 missing in two districts of Sumatra island. (Photo credit: AP)

Initial count of 37 dead rises to 41, with 17 still unaccounted for, as the search for missing victims intensifies amidst treacherous conditions. (Photo credit: AP)

Rescue teams employ rubber boats to search for missing individuals and evacuate survivors to shelters as roads turn into rivers and homes suffer damage. (Photo credit: AP)

Evacuation efforts hindered by heavy rain as officials encourage people to seek refuge with relatives due to safer conditions than tent shelters. (Photo credit: AP)

Infrastructure damage extensive, with 84 homes, 16 bridges, and two mosques affected in Tanah Datar, along with significant agricultural losses. (Photo credit: AP)

The survivors of Tanah Datar and the neighboring Agam district described their horror as the flash floods tore through, sweeping away their neighbors and drowning homes and structures. "The rain was very heavy, I heard the thunder and the sound similar to boiling water. It was the sound of big rocks falling from Mount Marapi," Rina, a 43-year-old housewife in Agam, told AFP.

Local and national authorities set up evacuation centers, emergency posts, and dispatch rescue teams to assist affected areas, prioritizing victim rescue and protection. (Photo credit: AP)

Indonesia's susceptibility to landslides and floods during the rainy season raises concerns, with deforestation cited as a contributing factor by environmental advocates. (Photo credit: AP)