Flash Floods in Indonesia’s Papua Pegunungan Leave 23 Missing

At least 23 people have been reported missing after flash floods swept through remote parts of Nduga Regency in Indonesia’s eastern Papua Pegunungan Province, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) confirmed on Tuesday.

The disaster, triggered by torrential rainfall on Saturday, hit two separate areas in the regency. According to BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari, 15 of the missing victims were swept away while attempting to cross a river. “Search and rescue efforts are ongoing after the flash flood,” he said, adding that massive landslides and blocked access roads have hampered the operation.

Local authorities, with support from the military and volunteers, are working to reach affected communities and locate those missing. The agency warned that unstable weather conditions could further complicate rescue efforts in the coming days.

Indonesia’s annual monsoon season, which typically runs from November to April, frequently brings flash floods, landslides, and outbreaks of water-borne diseases. Experts have linked the increasing frequency and intensity of these disasters to the impacts of climate change, which has altered rainfall patterns and intensified storm activity across the archipelago.

In recent months, the country has witnessed several severe weather-related tragedies. In September, floods and landslides across multiple regions killed at least 19 people, including 18 in Bali, the resort island’s worst flooding in a decade, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. Earlier in January, floods and landslides in Central Java claimed at least 25 lives.

Environmental groups have also warned that human activities such as deforestation, peatland degradation, and poorly regulated land use are worsening the impact of flooding. Reports indicate that extensive canal systems and peatland drainage by agricultural corporations have undermined the natural water absorption capacity of many regions, increasing runoff and flash flood risk.

As the monsoon season intensifies, authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert and adhere to evacuation advisories. Meanwhile, rescue teams continue to search for the missing in Papua Pegunungan amid fears that the death toll could rise if heavy rains persist.