Jakarta, Nov. 4 -- Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) confirmed that a search operation is underway for 23 residents missing after a flash flood struck two sub-districts in Nduga District, Highland Papua.

"The joint team continues their search for the 23 missing residents, 15 of whom were from Dal Sub-district and 8 from Yuguru Sub-district," BNPB Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Center Head Abdul Muhari stated on Tuesday.

The agency reported that most of the missing persons were swept away while crossing the Papan River, whose water level rose sharply following heavy rainfall in its upstream area since Saturday (November 1).

Areas affected by the flooding include Dal and Silan villages in Dal Sub-distr...