The flash flooding, which struck the Sentani district of Jayapura Regency, was triggered by torrential rainfall followed by landslide.

[3] The event occurred around 21:30 WIT (12:30 UTC) on 16 March, and sudden influx of water was expected to have originated from the Cyclops Mountains, which according to BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho was likely caused by a landslide forming a dam blocking the headwaters of a river, which then burst resulting in the torrential flow.

[6] Jayapura regent Mathius Awoitauw stated that the flooding was caused by environmental damage in the Cyclops Mountains.

[14] On Wednesday, 20 March, the death toll was further increased to 104 killed with 79 missing, and 40 of the unidentified victims were to be buried in a mass grave.

[5] Sentani's Adventis Doyo airstrip was also struck by the flooding, damaging a helicopter and a Twin Otter aircraft parked there at the time of the disaster.

[23] The emergency response headquarters, which also acted as a temporary shelter, were established at the Jayapura Regent's office complex.