Rescue teams in Indonesia continue to fight through dangerous conditions to reach victims in areas submerged by cyclone-driven torrential rain. After a week of severe flooding and landslides across Sumatra, authorities have confirmed the death toll has risen to 248, and officials warn the number is likely to increase.
Death Toll Continues to Rise Across Multiple Provinces
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported on Saturday that fatalities from the catastrophic floods now stand at 248, with more than 100 people still missing. The figure increased after rescuers in Agam district, West Sumatra, recovered more bodies.
More than 500 people have been injured, according to BNPB chief Suharyanto, who noted that many affected areas remain unreachable. “The death toll is expected to rise because many victims have not been found,” he said.
Thousands Displaced in West Sumatra
West Sumatra has been one of the hardest-hit regions.
Ilham Wahab, spokesman for the West Sumatra Disaster Mitigation Agency, updated earlier figures, saying that 61 people had died in the province and 90 remained missing.
“A total of 75,219 people are displaced, and 106,806 residents have been affected across West Sumatra,” he said.
North Sumatra later confirmed 116 deaths, while Aceh province reported at least 35 fatalities, according to local authorities.
Regional Impact Across Southeast Asia
The disaster extends beyond Indonesia. Swaths of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand have endured days of nonstop heavy rain after a rare tropical storm formed in the Malacca Strait.
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Thailand has reported 145 deaths across eight southern provinces.
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More than 3.5 million people there have been affected by flooding.
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Malaysia has reported at least two fatalities.
In total, close to 400 people across the region have died due to the storm.
Although rainfall eased late Friday, many Indonesian communities are still isolated, with survivors in desperate need of assistance.
Villages Swept Away by Floodwaters
In North Sumatra, swollen rivers burst their banks and unleashed powerful torrents that tore through mountainside villages.
Entire neighborhoods were swept away, thousands of homes submerged, and residents carried away by fast-moving water.
Roads, communication lines, and bridges across affected districts have been heavily damaged, making it difficult for emergency teams to enter the worst-hit zones.
Rescue and Relief Efforts Face Major Obstacles
Relief efforts have been severely impacted by:
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Collapsed bridges
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Flooded roads
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Downed communication networks
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Limited heavy machinery
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Entire communities cut off by landslides
Rescue workers are trying to reach people stranded in remote areas and search for survivors buried under debris.
Relief aircraft have been deployed to drop food, clean water, and supplies to isolated districts, including Central Tapanuli in North Sumatra and surrounding regions.
Despite the challenges, teams continue to work around the clock.