Tanah Datar: Flash floods and mud slides in Indonesia's West Sumatra province killed at least 43 people over the weekend while a search for 15 missing people continued, authorities said on Monday.

Torrential rain on Saturday evening triggered flash floods, landslides, and cold lava flow - a mud-like mixture of volcanic ash, rock debris and water - in three districts in West Sumatra province, Abdul Malik, chief of the provincial rescue team, told Reuters.

The cold lava flow, known in Indonesia as a lahar, came from Mount Marapi, one of Sumatra's most active volcanoes.

In December, more than 20 people were killed after Marapi erupted. A series of eruptions has followed since.

“The heavy rain swept materials such as ash and large rocks from the Marapi volcano,” said Abdul Malik, who later added in a statement that 43 people had died and 15 remained missing.

“Cold lava flow and flash floods have always been threats to us recently. But the problem is, it always happens late at night until dawn,” he said.

Abdul said around 400 personnel, including rescuers, police, and military, were deployed to search for the missing people on Monday, helped by at least eight excavators and drones.

The national disaster and management agency BNPB said in a statement almost 200 houses were damaged and 72 hectares (178 acres) of lands, including rice fields, were affected. At least 159 people from Agam district were evacuated to nearby schools.

Footage shared by BNPB showed roads and rice fields covered by mud. Video also showed the wreckage of damaged homes and buildings, while the floods brought logs and large rocks into settlements.

Eko Widodo, a 43-year-old survivor, said: “The flooding was sudden and the river became blocked which resulted in the flow of water everywhere and it was out of control”.

SOURCE: REUTERS

Lahore: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday stepped down from the presidency of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), reportedly.

According to media reports, Shehbaz Sharif left the party post and sent his resignation to party leader Mian Nawaz Sharif.

It is also reported that the meeting of the PML-N Central Council will be held on May 28, in which former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif will be elected as the party's president.

The meeting of the executive committee of the party has been called under Article-15 of the Constitution.

Islamabad: The federal government Monday approved 23 billion rupees for solving the problems of Azad Kashmir.

According to the details, a high-level meeting on the situation of Azad Kashmir was held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in which 23 billion rupees have been approved for solving the problems of Azad Kashmir.

It is reported that the meeting was held at the Prime Minister's House in which Azad Kashmir government, representatives of the Ministry of Interior and other important officials participated.

Apart from this, the Federal Minister of Kashmir Affairs, Minister of Energy, Minister of Food Security also participated in the meeting.

During the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif was given a detailed briefing on the tense situation in Azad Kashmir.

It is pertinent to note that yesterday Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed serious concern over the situation in Azad Kashmir in his message on the social media website X.

Negotiations failed

On the other hand, the talks in Rawalakot with the Azad Kashmir government's Mutahidda Action Committee have failed.

Chairman Mutahidda Action Committee Shaukat Noz Mir said that their three demands are low-cost flour, complete relief in electricity and seizure of privileges from the elite, until these are accepted by the government, the strike will continue.

He further said that the government should accept the demands and issue a notification. ‘Our protest is peaceful and will not be allowed to be sabotaged.’

After the negotiations failed, convoys from Rawalakot and other places are moving towards Muzaffarabad.

On the call of Awami Action Committee in Azad Kashmir, the participants of the long march have reached Rawalakot and are preparing to go to Muzaffarabad.

Educational institutions and district offices will also be closed in the district today. Normal life has been paralysed in the entire Kashmir Valley including Poonch, Bagh and Jhelum Valley for four consecutive days.

Medical stores are also closed, patients and their families are facing severe difficulties. It has been decided to shut down mobile phones and internet in Azad Kashmir for two more days.

Background

It is important to mention that during the ongoing protest and strike for the supply of cheap electricity and flour in Azad Kashmir yesterday, the angry protesters and the police came face to face during which the police fired tear gas in response to stone pelting.

The strike was announced by the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Action Committee after at least 70 people were arrested during the raids on Thursday.

All business centers, offices and educational institutions were closed across Azad Kashmir due to strike and protest.

Clashes between police and protesters took place on Friday and Saturday, resulting in the death of at least one police officer and the injury of 90 others.