Rescuers in Indonesia are searching for hundreds of people still unaccounted for after the Indonesia floods triggered by Cyclone Senyar caused catastrophic landslides and widespread destruction across Sumatra.
The death toll has risen to at least 502, according to the national disaster management agency, with another 508 people reported missing and around 2,500 injured.
Search efforts intensify across isolated regions
Nearly a week after the cyclonic rains began, rescue teams are racing to reach isolated communities in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra. Entire towns remain cut off by collapsed bridges, landslides and washed-out roads.
Authorities say thousands have been left without critical supplies, and many villages have yet to receive any form of assistance.
“There are two cities that require full attention due to being isolated, namely Central Tapanuli and Sibolga,” said agency head Suharyanto. Ships were expected to reach Sibolga on Monday, though conditions remain difficult.
In several districts, residents report going two to three days without food as aid distribution struggles to keep up. Mud has submerged wells in Aceh, leaving many communities without clean water.
Reports of looting amid desperation for food and water
Local police and officials report increasing cases of looting in parts of Aceh and North Sumatra as residents break into shops and warehouses in search of basic supplies.
A police spokesperson said people “didn’t know that aid would come and were worried they would starve”, adding that officers had been deployed to restore order.
Suharyanto acknowledged that some people had attempted to seize aid items before formal distribution, attributing the behaviour to desperation rather than intent.
In Sungai Nyalo village, 100km from West Sumatra’s capital Padang, floodwaters have receded but thick grey mud now coats homes, cars and farmland. Residents say no official assistance has arrived and road clearing has yet to begin.
Cyclone Senyar devastates Indonesia and neighbouring countries
Cyclone Senyar- an exceptionally rare tropical storm in this region- triggered landslides and submerged thousands of buildings across Sumatra. Homes were swept away and entire agricultural areas destroyed.
The Indonesia floods form part of a wider regional crisis.
Torrential rain and storms this month have:
- killed more than 330 people in Sri Lanka
- claimed over 170 lives in Thailand
- caused several deaths in Malaysia
- left more than 200 dead in the Philippines
Across Asia, more than 900 people have died due to extreme weather in recent weeks.
Anger rises over disaster response
As conditions worsen, frustration is growing over what some civil society groups describe as inadequate and slow disaster management. Major roads in West Sumatra remain impassable, complicating relief operations.
President Prabowo Subianto is visiting affected areas in North Sumatra amid rising calls for the government to declare a state of emergency to accelerate aid delivery.
Meanwhile, tech billionaire Elon Musk has offered free Starlink services to support emergency communications in remote areas.
Communities struggle to stay in their homes
Despite the devastation, many residents are choosing not to evacuate, fearing their homes and belongings will be lost. “Most villagers chose to stay; they didn’t want to leave their houses behind,” one resident told AFP.
With thousands still missing and rescue operations hampered by terrain and weather, officials warn the number of confirmed victims from the Indonesia floods is likely to rise.
Source: this article was adapted from information from the BBC
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