Jakarta, Jan. 6 (BNA): At least 14 people were killed after being swept away by flash floods in Indonesia's North Sulawesi, as the search for the missing continued.

Heavy rain early on Monday triggered flash floods on the island of Siau, located in the Siau Tagulandang Biaro region, said Nuriadin Gumeleng, a spokesperson for the local rescue agency.

Sixteen rescuers have been deployed to search for four people who remain missing on Tuesday. 18 people had been injured so far, Reuters reported.

At least 444 people have been evacuated to local schools and churches after the flash floods, the country's disaster mitigation agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement.

Authorities have deployed excavators to clear roads that have been blocked by the debris and mud, he said.

H.K, S.H.A