The number of victims of the flash flood on Siau Island increased to 17 people.

MANADO - The number of people who died due to flash floods that hit several villages and sub-districts on Siau Island, Siau-Tagulandang-Biaro Islands Regency (Sitaro), North Sulawesi reached 17 people, of which two residents are still missing.

"The victims died 17 people, while in search of two people. For the dead victims, there were initially 15 people, then one more died of illness in the evacuation and another one was just found," said Basarnas Sulut Public Relations, Nuriadin Gumeleng, quoted by Antara, Thursday, January 8.

Nuriadin said that until now, two victims are still being searched, each on behalf of Andris Pianaung and Leonel Pianaung, both men.

He said, on Wednesday at 11.40 WITA, the joint SAR team managed to find one victim named Clayton Azriel Tatambihe. The victim was then evacuated and handed over to the family.

The search continued until noon, but the team was hampered by rain accompanied by strong winds, especially in the Bahu Sondang Village area.

Until 18.00 WITA, there were no signs of the two victims, so the search operation was temporarily stopped.

"The search is planned to resume today starting at 08.00 WITA," he said.

The SAR operation deployed various elements, including the North Sulawesi Basarnas, Kodam XIII/Merdeka, North Sulawesi Police, BPBD Sitaro Islands Regency, Sitaro Police, Kodim Sangihe, Koramil Sitaro, AL Siau Post, as well as local governments and local communities.

Nuriadin emphasized Basarnas' commitment to continue to search to the maximum to find all the victims and help the community affected by the disaster.

Previously, on Monday morning, flash floods hit several villages and sub-districts on Siau Island, due to heavy rain for about five hours.