The death toll from Indonesia’s devastating floods has risen to more than 500, while rescue teams continue to struggle to reach isolated areas.
A rare cyclone that formed in the Strait of Malacca struck three provinces last week, directly affecting nearly 1.4 million people, according to the country’s disaster management agency.
At least 500 more people remain missing, and several thousand have been injured.
Indonesia is one of several Asian countries hit this week by severe rainfall and storms; Thailand, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka have also reported significant casualties.
The worst-affected regions in Indonesia include Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, where thousands of people remain cut off and without access to emergency supplies.
One resident from Aceh said the floodwaters felt “almost like a tsunami.”
“My grandmother says it is the worst she has seen in her life,” said Amalia.
Blocked roads, covered with mud and debris, have forced relief workers to travel on foot or by motorcycle to reach survivors.
In West Sumatra’s Twin Bridge landmark area, a woman named Mariana was watching an excavator clear the road. She hopes her missing 15-year-old son and other family members will be found.
“Every time I see the excavator, I keep wondering what condition my son will be in when they find him. Will he be unharmed? And my mother…my brother-in-law… I don’t even know if we’ll recognize them.”
Many people are still waiting for food assistance and say they have gone without meals for two to three days.
One of the worst-hit areas in North Sumatra is Central Tapanuli. Resident Mayasanti told the BBC that aid workers have struggled to reach her community.
“Everything is gone. Food is running out,” she said. “People are fighting over instant noodles. We need food and rice. All access routes to us have been cut off.”
She added that she had to walk several kilometers to get basic needs such as clean water and internet access.
In Central Aceh, authorities have provided Starlink devices, where long lines of people were seen trying to contact loved ones or charge their phones.
“There has been no signal for five days. I’ve been waiting since yesterday for a network. I want to call my mother, but I still can’t,” said a resident named Mar.
Rescue operations are accelerating, but at the same time, public dissatisfaction with the government’s disaster response has grown.
Critics say preparedness was insufficient and that bureaucratic delays worsened the distribution of food aid.
On Monday, Indonesia’s president visited the affected areas in North Sumatra. He acknowledged that several roads remain cut off but said all efforts were underway to overcome the crisis.
“We are facing this disaster with determination and solidarity. As a nation, we will emerge stronger,” he said.
Across South and Southeast Asia, last week’s floods and landslides have left more than 1,100 people dead. Sri Lanka has reported 355 deaths, while Thailand’s toll has exceeded 176.
Experts say no single weather phenomenon is responsible for the flooding; instead, multiple climate-related factors contributed to the extreme conditions.
According to BBC Weather, one key factor is the northeast monsoon, which typically affects East and South Asia from November to March. It brings moisture-laden winds from the ocean, causing heavy rainfall.
Cyclone Ditto brought intense rain to Sri Lanka before weakening and shifting toward southeast India, where heavy rainfall continues.
In the Malay Peninsula, Cyclone Senia brought similar impacts to Sumatra and southern Thailand.
The storm was unusual, as cyclones rarely form in that region.
Vietnam has also experienced weeks of heavy rainfall, with remnants of Typhoon Koto approaching its coast, raising fears of further downpours and flooding.
Climate change may have played a role in intensifying rainfall events, even though global warming is not expected to increase the overall number of storms. However, experts warn that extreme rainfall capable of triggering floods could become more frequent.
Source: BBC