Rescue efforts continue in Indonesia as the death toll from catastrophic flooding and landslides in Sumatra rises to 248, with more than 100 people still missing.
The disaster, driven by a rare tropical storm in the Malacca Strait, has affected thousands across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand over the past week, killing nearly 400 people in total.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported on Saturday that more than 500 people have been injured and tens of thousands displaced.
Suharyanto, head of the BNPB, warned that the death toll is expected to climb as many bodies remain unrecovered and some areas are still unreachable.
In West Sumatra, local authorities confirmed 61 deaths and 90 missing persons, with 75,219 people displaced and 106,806 affected across the province. North Sumatra has reported 116 fatalities, while Aceh province has recorded at least 35 deaths.
The floods have destroyed homes, swept away entire villages, and left many communities isolated due to collapsed bridges, damaged roads, and downed communication lines.
Relief efforts are ongoing, with aircraft delivering aid to hard-hit regions such as Central Tapanuli in North Sumatra. However, rescuers face challenges navigating flooded and mountainous terrain, hampering recovery and relief operations.
Neighboring countries have also been severely impacted. Thailand has reported at least 145 deaths across its eight southern provinces, with more than 3.5 million people affected, while Malaysia has confirmed two fatalities.
Although the heavy rain subsided late Friday, thousands of families remain displaced, and search operations are continuing.
Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant as recovery efforts intensify, with officials emphasizing that the full impact of the disaster is still unfolding.
Source: Al Jazeera
Written By Rodney Mbua
