Inp.polri.go.id - Manokwari. Nineteen residents remain missing after flash floods and landslides struck Catubouw District, Arfak Mountains Regency, West Papua, on Thursday night, the Manokwari Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) confirmed.

“The missing are suspected to have been swept away by the current or buried by landslides. Our team continues the search operations,” said Basarnas Manokwari Head Yefri Sabaruddin on Sunday (18/5/2025), as quoted by antaranews.com.

The disaster occurred around 9 pm local time on Thursday. Of the 24 affected residents, four survived and one has been confirmed dead. 

Rescue teams were deployed shortly after authorities received the report on Saturday evening. They reached the disaster site at around 2 am on Sunday.

Search efforts now involve joint teams from the police, military, and local administration. Officials warn the number of victims could rise due to the severity of terrain and the disaster’s wide impact. 

(mg/inp/pr/rs)