The incident occurred in Tanah Datar, Indonesia, when heavy rain caused mudslides and debris to flow into neighborhoods near an active volcano.

The national disaster agency reported that 58 people had died, with 35 people still missing and 33 injured.

A volcanic eruption in Indonesia caused a deluge of volcanic material, mud, and rain that swept away people and left many dead.

The bodies were found near rivers, and the disaster caused significant damage and transport disruptions in six districts.

Over 3,300 people were forced to evacuate.

Authorities deployed heavy equipment for debris clearance and used cloud seeding technology to aid the rescue effort.

The volcanic material carried down the slopes by rain is called cold lava or lahar.

Indonesia, which is frequently hit by landslides and floods during the rainy season, experienced severe flooding on Sumatra island in 2022 that displaced around 24,000 people and resulted in the deaths of two children.

Environmental campaigners attributed the worsening disaster to deforestation caused by logging.

Trees play a crucial role in preventing floods by slowing down the flow of water on hills and into rivers.

However, the removal of trees accelerates the rate of water runoff, increasing the intensity of rainfall and exacerbating the impact of floods.

Therefore, efforts are being made to artificially induce rain earlier in the season to weaken its intensity before it reaches disaster-prone areas.