Indonesia floods death toll rises to 442 as people hunt for food and water

As desperate people search for food and water in Indonesia, a tally released by the national disaster agency revealed a death toll of 442.

Authorities raced to parts of Sumatra island’s hardest-hit area, where thousands of people were stranded without necessary supplies, as 402 others are still missing, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Sunday.

The organization claims that there are still 402 missing in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh, Indonesia’s three provinces.

As Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia are flooded with heavy monsoon rain, at least 600 people have died in Southeast Asia. Additionally, the deluges caused landslides, damaged roads, and cut communication lines.

At least two cities on Sumatra island are still unreachable on Sunday due to the floods that have displaced thousands of people in Indonesia. Authorities claimed that to provide aid, they had two warships escorted from Jakarta.

Central Tapanuli and Sibolga are two cities that require full attention because of their isolation, according to BNPB head Suharyanto in a statement.

He claimed that Monday was the day the ships arrived in Sibolga.

Situation desperate

Rescue efforts were also hampered by the challenging weather and the lack of heavy equipment.

The Central Tapanuli district of North Sumatra and the hardest-hit city of Sibolga have both experienced slow aid delivery.

People are seen rushing past crumbling barricades, flooded roads, and broken glass in social media videos trying to get food, medicine, and gas.

Some even reached damaged convenience stores by wading through waist-deep floodwaters.

Heavy rain is frequently a part of the annual monsoon season, which typically occurs between June and September, causing flash floods and landslides.

The flooding tolls in Indonesia and Thailand are among the highest in those countries in recent years due to a tropical storm that has exacerbated the conditions.