Jakarta, Indonesia – The death toll from devastating floods and landslides that struck Indonesia’s Sumatra island has risen to 303, according to Jakarta’s disaster agency. Search and rescue operations continue in the vast areas devastated by the cyclone and associated tropical storms.
Authorities said, according to Reuters, that unseasonal heavy rains, accompanied by a tropical storm that struck the Strait of Malacca over the weekend, caused flash floods in North and West Sumatra province and Aceh province. This led to sudden landslides and rising water levels in dozens of residential areas.
Around 279 people remain missing, while 80,000 have been evacuated from their homes. Hundreds of families are still trapped in three provinces due to collapsed roads and disrupted communications. Authorities confirmed that the damage to infrastructure is severely hindering rescue teams’ access to isolated villages that have been completely submerged.
Amid the dire conditions, relief teams resorted to helicopters to deliver food and medical aid to the hardest-hit areas. Meanwhile, the armed forces are working to open land corridors using heavy equipment to connect the affected areas to the rest of the island. Some areas have experienced limited unrest as trapped residents attempt to access aid amidst shortages.
The storm’s effects extended to other Southeast Asian countries, with neighboring Thailand reporting dozens of deaths due to flooding. Thousands were also displaced, reflecting the strength of the tropical depression that struck the region and caused widespread weather disruptions.
Experts warn that climate change is increasing the likelihood of more frequent and severe weather events. They also call for strengthening early warning systems, developing evacuation plans, and improving rapid response capabilities in countries most vulnerable to tropical storms.
