Rescue teams across Indonesia are searching for at least four hundred people who remain missing after a period of intense cyclonic rain triggered destructive Indonesia floods and landslides almost a week ago. Many of the missing are believed to be trapped beneath thick layers of mud and collapsed slopes. Officials say the death toll on Sumatra has climbed beyond four hundred forty and is expected to rise as isolated communities become reachable. Aid has been airlifted and transported by sea into devastated regions, yet several villages continue to wait for any form of assistance. In some areas, desperate residents have taken food and water from abandoned shops simply to survive. Authorities explain that these incidents happened before any proper relief support arrived and that people feared running out of essential supplies after days of isolation. The wider region has endured intense weather, with powerful storms affecting Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Across these countries, millions of people have been impacted and more than nine hundred deaths have been recorded this month alone. Indonesia floods were worsened by a rare tropical system known as Cyclone Senyar which triggered massive slides, washed away homes and submerged thousands of buildings.
Deadly floods in Indonesia leave hundreds missing as urgent search begins
According to the National Disaster Management Agency, people remain missing in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra. Two cities, Central Tapanuli and Sibolga, require urgent government attention because they are still isolated. Ships carrying food, medicine and equipment were expected to reach Sibolga on Monday as weather conditions improve. Some foreign assistance has started to arrive. Malaysia has sent medical supplies to Aceh, one of the hardest hit provinces. In the village of Sungai Nyalo near Padang, floodwaters have slowly receded, revealing a thick layer of grey mud that now covers homes, vehicles and farmland. Residents say that roads have not yet been cleared and that they have not seen any outside help since the disaster began. Many villagers insist on staying in their damaged homes to protect their remaining belongings. Police reports confirm limited incidents of break ins at shops in parts of Sumatra. Officers have been deployed to restore order and reassure residents. Officials note that the break ins happened before relief deliveries and that communities were unaware that support was on the way.
Communication challenges have made rescue operations even more difficult. To assist emergency teams, Elon Musk has offered free access to Starlink communication services in affected regions so that responders can coordinate efforts more effectively. Severe conditions continue to trouble neighboring countries. Thailand has reported around one hundred seventy flood related deaths, and Malaysia has recorded several casualties from ongoing storms. Sri Lanka is facing one of its worst weather events in years, with more than three hundred thirty deaths from floods and mudslides. Although rainfall has weakened, parts of Colombo remain underwater and several inland areas remain cut off. In the Philippines, catastrophic flooding has combined with deep political anger as large crowds protest corruption linked to missing funds for flood control projects. Demonstrators claim that money intended for protection was diverted, leaving communities dangerously exposed. The unrest has placed significant pressure on the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr as investigations and political rivalries intensify.
source:BBC
