MANADO, Indonesia (AP) — Flash floods triggered by torrential rain killed at least 16 people in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province, officials said Tuesday.
Days of monsoon rain burst riverbanks early Monday, triggering fast-moving torrents of water mixed with mud, rocks and debris that swept away people and submerged villages in Siau Tagulandang Biaro District, said Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency.
Emergency rescue personnel supported by police and the military deployed to four devastated villages on Siau, a tiny island about 130 kilometers (80 miles) off the northern tip of Sulawesi, Indonesia's fourth-largest island. In some places, access was hampered by damaged roads and disrupted communications, Muhari said.
At least seven houses were washed away and more than 140 homes were damaged when the deluge surged down hillsides. The flooding forced more than 680 residents into temporary shelters in churches and public buildings, Muhari said.
As weather improved and floodwaters receded Tuesday, rescuers recovered 16 bodies and were searching for another three missing residents in areas where entire neighborhoods had been inundated, said Nuriadian Gumeleng, a North Sulawesi search and rescue office spokesman.
Sitaro District Chief Chyntia Ingrid Kalangit declared a 14-day emergency response period beginning Monday to speed the delivery of aid, evacuations and infrastructure repairs after the flooding that injured 25 people.
“We called on residents to remain alert as further rainfall could raise the risk of additional flooding or landslides,” said Kalangit, who added that heavy equipment and relief supplies were sent by the provincial government.
Catastrophic floods and landslides in December struck 52 cities and regencies earlier on Sumatra, Indonesia's largest island, leaving 1,178 people dead and more than 7,000 injured, with 148 residents missing as of Tuesday, the National Disaster Management Agency said.
In this photo released by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, rescuers and villagers search for victims after flash floods hit Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)
In this photo released by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, rescuers and villagers search for victims after flash floods hit Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 7, 2026--
HPI, a Texas-based commercial real estate firm, announced the launch of its Dallas Tenant Advisory Group, marking a strategic expansion of the firm’s platform. The new group will be led by Robbie Baty, a respected commercial real estate veteran with more than 20 years of experience representing tenants.
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“The time is right for our platform — and Robbie is the right leader,” says Hunter Lee, an HPI Partner. “He is deeply respected in the industry and embodies the competitive, client-first mindset we embrace at HPI.”
“Robbie’s track record is consistent and proven,” adds Colt McCoy, head of HPI’s Fort Worth office. “We are excited for the energy and expertise he will bring as we continue to expand our North Texas footprint.”
Since 2021, Baty has represented tenants on over 8.9 million SF of transactions, advising on major projects including the Santander Consumer USA headquarters lease — the largest office lease completed in Downtown Dallas in the past five years. His client experience includes Brinker International, the PGA of America, Matador Resources, and Sewell Automotive. Most recently, he served as a Vice Chairman and Dallas Office Tenant Representation Leader at Cushman & Wakefield, where he drove more than 2.5x revenue growth.
HPI’s decision to launch a dedicated Dallas Tenant Advisory Group follows several years of sustained growth. Over the last five years, the firm has grown assets under management in Dallas by almost 5x, strengthening its multidisciplinary platform across Texas.
“We aren’t doing this just to do this — we’ve been waiting for the right moment and the right person,” said Lee. “Robbie is a leader who’s hungry for this kind of opportunity.”
Baty believes the firm’s momentum — combined with Dallas’ economic trajectory — creates an ideal environment for reinvesting in the market with a focused tenant advisory team.
“When I look at the growth trajectory of Dallas, and the abundance of companies based in North Texas, I see a region that’s ready for additional, locally based tenant representation companies. HPI already has the platform in place to help us to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact in the market,” said Baty, a Dallas native.
As head of the Tenant Advisory Group, Baty, a D CEO Power Broker for eleven consecutive years and former NAIOP North Texas Office Broker of the Year, plans to build a best-in-class team, with a goal of hiring 10-12 producers for each of the office and industrial tenant representation teams.
He also sees significant opportunity in data center representation, which he plans to develop as part of the group’s long-term strategy.
“My focus is serving clients – I’m dedicated to building a team of professionals who will deliver the best client experience and outcomes possible,” Baty added. “It is also important to me that HPI is a Texas-based company. This is my home, and I firmly believe local companies want to work with local groups like HPI.”
Baty says he is particularly energized by HPI’s collaborative structure, which allows teams to work seamlessly across disciplines to deliver comprehensive resources to clients.
“I want to utilize my full skill set,” said Baty. “I’m a coach at heart – I love to build teams and lead. Starting a new business has always been a dream of mine, and I am thrilled to do it with such a great group of people. At HPI, I can truly do what’s best for the client. Their entrepreneurial mindset is exciting.”
About HPI: HPI was founded in 1992 with four employees and one million square feet. Today HPI employees over 200 people in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Fort Worth, serving 900 clients across almost 30 million square feet.
HPI announced that Robbie Baty will lead its new Dallas Tenant Advisory Group.
