Eight killed after minibus swept by flash flood in North Sumatra

The North Sumatra Police headquarters, located in the provincial capital of Medan, is seen in this undated handout photograph. - North Sumatra Police/File

MEDAN (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): Eight people have died, including three toddlers, after a minibus was swept away by a flash flood while crossing the Sipange River in South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, on Wednesday (April 19) night.

The vehicle was carrying 14 passengers from Rokan Hulu, Riau who were travelling to celebrate Idul Fitri in South Tapanuli.

South Tapanuli Police chief Adj. Comr. Imam Zamroni said the vehicle was crossing the river in Sigolang village at around 7pm when it was hit by the flash flood, which caused the engine to fail.

Six adults got out of the vehicle to prevent it from being swept away, but failed.

Cars are the most popular choice for holidaymakers this year, with around 27 million people preferring to use them to travel back to their hometowns.

With no health restrictions in place, the government expects some 123 million Indonesians to perform mudik (exodus) this year.

While the government has declared Idul Fitri to fall on Saturday, Muhammadiyah, the second-largest Muslim organisation, is celebrating the end of Ramadan on Friday.