SIBOLANGIT, Indonesia — A landslide caused by heavy rainfall has resulted in the tragic deaths of seven individuals in Indonesia’s Sumatra island, authorities reported on Thursday. This incident has exacerbated the ongoing toll from recent landslides in the area throughout the week.

Rescue teams managed to recover the bodies from a tourist bus that had been buried under debris, including trees, mud, and rocks. The bus was on a route connecting Medan city with Berastagi town in North Sumatra province, which serves as a crucial pathway linking the capital to surrounding districts.

The bus was one of several vehicles stranded on that road following landslides that began on Wednesday morning. Additionally, over ten individuals sustained injuries and were subsequently transported to a medical facility in Medan for treatment.

Muji Ediyanto, the traffic director for North Sumatra Regional Police, communicated through a video message issued by Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency on Thursday, stating that numerous vehicles remain stuck amid the landslide debris along the roadway. He indicated, “It will take at least two days to evacuate those vehicles from the affected areas due to the landslide. Many vehicles remain trapped under piles of debris and fallen trees, which has hindered their ability to exit the affected locations.”

This week has already seen a toll of 20 deaths resulting from flash floods and landslides at four sites in the mountainous regions of North Sumatra. Notably, one of these locations in Karo regency lies less than 20 kilometers from the site of the recent landslide.

Seasonal rainfall, particularly from October to March, often triggers such flooding and landslides in Indonesia, which comprises around 17,000 islands. Many inhabitants reside in mountainous areas or along fertile floodplains, making them vulnerable to these natural disasters.