Indonesia seeds clouds to block rainfall after floods killed at least 58 people while 35 are missing

Rescuers search for victims of a flash flood in Tanah Datar, West Sumatra (Ali Nayaka/AP)

KASPARMAN PILIANG and NINIEK KARMINI

Indonesian authorities seeded clouds on Wednesday, trying to prevent further rain and flash floods after deluges that hit the country's Sumatra Island over the weekend left at least 58 people dead and another 35 missing.

Monsoon rains triggered a landslide of mud and cold lava from Mount Marapi, eventually causing rivers to breach their banks. The deluge tore through mountainside villages in four districts in West Sumatra province just before midnight on Saturday.