Over 800 individuals are still unaccounted for as a result of catastrophic floods that led to over 1,000 fatalities in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand last week. The death toll stands at a minimum of 604 in Indonesia, 366 in Sri Lanka, and 176 in Thailand, according to authorities.
During a visit to the impacted areas, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto promised to reconstruct damaged infrastructure. Some locations are inaccessible due to road destruction and communication breakdowns, necessitating the delivery of supplies via aircraft. The National Disaster Management Agency reported that flooding displaced 290,700 people in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces, with 464 individuals currently missing in Indonesia.
Prabowo emphasized the importance of effectively addressing climate change, stating that local governments should play a pivotal role in environmental protection and readiness for future extreme weather conditions. In Sri Lanka, rescuers are actively searching for 367 missing persons, with approximately 218,000 individuals taking refuge in temporary shelters post landslides in the central hill country.
In Thailand, the government announced the commencement of compensation disbursements totaling 239 million baht ($10.9 million Cdn.) for 26,000 affected individuals on Monday. Efforts are underway to restore essential services like water and electricity in the southern regions, where 3.9 million people have been impacted by severe flooding.
President Prabowo, who inspected North Sumatra and was scheduled to visit West Sumatra and Aceh, assured that the government’s response is effectively reaching those in need. He reiterated the importance of proactive climate change strategies and the role of local governments in environmental protection during his interactions with survivors.
Rescue operations continue in Sri Lanka, with authorities persistently searching for the 370 missing individuals as of the latest update.