Indonesia's disaster agency reported 908 people died and 410 remain missing after heavy rains caused floods and landslides in three provinces: Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra on Sumatra island. The floods washed away roads, buried homes in mud, and cut off essential supplies in Aceh and North Sumatra. Rescue teams are searching for bodies in "waist-deep" mud, according to Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf.
Starvation poses a significant threat to remote, inaccessible villages. "Many people need basic necessities. Remote areas in Aceh remain inaccessible. People are no longer dying from the floods, but from starvation," Muzakir said.
Entire villages in Aceh Tamiang district were swept away by the floods. "Aceh Tamiang is completely devastated. Many villages and communes only exist in name," Governor Muzakir stated.
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Roads submerged in mud and dead livestock in Aceh Tamiang district, Aceh province on 6/12. Photo: AFP. |
Fachrul Rozi, an Aceh Tamiang resident, shared that he had to crowd with others in an old shop last week due to rising floodwaters. "We ate whatever was available and helped each other with the few necessities each person carried," he said.
The Indonesian government has faced criticism for not declaring a national disaster. Munawar Liza Zainal, a resident of Aceh, expressed dissatisfaction, stating, "This is an unusual disaster and requires special response measures," reflecting the frustration of many flood victims. Declaring a national disaster would release resources and enable government agencies to coordinate a more effective response.
Analysts suggest Indonesia is hesitant to declare a disaster or call for foreign aid, as it might indicate an inability to cope. However, the Indonesian government this week affirmed its ability to manage the disaster's aftermath. President Prabowo Subianto stated that the situation is improving and current measures are sufficient.
The Sumatra floods are part of a wider regional crisis. Over 1,790 people have died due to natural disasters across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam since late last month.
Huyen Le (According to AFP, Reuters)
