Rescue teams in Indonesia are racing against time to reach survivors trapped in remote, flood-devastated regions after a week of cyclone-driven torrential rain unleashed deadly flooding and landslides across several provinces.
Authorities confirmed on Saturday that the death toll has climbed to 248, with officials warning that the figure is likely to rise as search efforts expand. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said more than 100 people remain missing, while at least 500 others have been injured.
BNPB chief Suharyanto said the situation remains critical. “Many bodies are still missing, and many areas have not yet been reached,” he noted, citing accessibility challenges caused by widespread infrastructure damage.
Regional devastation across Sumatra
In West Sumatra, updated figures show 61 dead, 90 missing, 75,219 displaced and 106,806 affected.
North Sumatra later reported 116 fatalities, while Aceh province confirmed 35 deaths.
Authorities say many regions remain inaccessible due to washed-out roads, collapsed bridges, landslides, and downed communication lines, leaving communities stranded and rescue operations severely hindered.
Nearly 400 killed across Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand
The rare tropical storm that formed in the Malacca Strait has battered Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, killing about 400 people across the three nations.
Thailand has recorded 145 deaths across eight southern provinces, affecting more than 3.5 million people, while Malaysia has reported two fatalities linked to the severe flooding.
Villages wiped out as rivers overflow in Sumatra
In Indonesia, powerful floodwaters surged through North Sumatra after rivers burst their banks, destroying mountainside villages and sweeping residents away. Thousands of homes and public buildings have been submerged or obliterated, forcing families to flee or shelter in temporary evacuation centers.
Aid airlifts and search operations continue
Relief aircraft are delivering emergency supplies to isolated districts, including Central Tapanuli in North Sumatra, one of the worst-affected zones.
Although weather conditions improved after the rains eased late Friday, rescue teams continue to struggle as they sift through mud, debris and collapsed structures in search of survivors.
Authorities say thousands of families remain unable to return home, and with many people still unaccounted for, the full extent of the disaster has yet to unfold.
