Heavy rains and cold lava flows result in 37 deaths and floods in Afghanistan and Indonesia

Rains in Indonesia and Afghanistan caused the death of 37 people, with another 15 missing this Sunday (12). Storms in Indonesia and Afghanistan have raised river levels, blocking roads and affecting volcanoes, causing cold lava flows in cities. The death toll exceeds 330 people.

According to the Associated Press, the news agency responsible for covering disasters in Indonesia, lava from the country's most active volcano, Mount Merapi, reached a river and caused flooding.

The consequences of the rains

A cold volcanic lava slide is a mixture of volcanic debris, such as ash and sand, that occurs during rainy periods, running down the slopes of the volcano. In the same region, rain hit the province of West Sumatra, causing cold lava to move.

The intense rains also affected roads, such as in Tanah Datar district, which was covered in mud. Of the 37 dead, 19 were found in the town of Caduang.

Embed from Getty Images

_{Indonesia has already suffered from floods in 2023 (Photo: reproduction/Getty Images Embed/Mangiwau)}

According to the United Nations (UN), seasonal rains in Afghanistan are common, but highlighted that this year they were more intense. Furthermore, the UN confirmed that more than 300 people died in the country.

While in Indonesia, approximately one hundred houses and buildings were hit and submerged, in Afghanistan, more than a thousand houses were destroyed, the majority in the north of the country, in Baghlan, which was the region hardest hit by the rain.

Mount Merapi volcano

Mount Merapi volcano is over 2,885 meters high and is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. It is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for being home to most of the world's volcanoes. Last year, it erupted, killing 23 climbers who were ascending the mountain.

Since 2011, Mount Merapi has been on the third alert level. This means people should stay at least 3 kilometers away from the summit, according to the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation.

At the beginning of the 21st century, Mount Merapi had erupted around 11 times. The event that caused the most deaths was in 1979, leaving 60 dead. Again, in January this year, the volcano erupted, but authorities warned visitors and residents not to go near the mountain.

Featured Photo: Mount Merapi erupts amid floods in Indonesia (Photo: reproduction/Getty Images Embed/angga)