Flood and landslide deaths in Sumatra exceed 900 as survivors endure arduous journeys for aid, with environmental groups blaming deforestation.
ACEH TAMIANG: Survivors in Indonesia’s flood-ravaged Aceh Tamiang region climbed over slippery logs and walked for an hour to reach aid distribution points on Saturday.
The death toll from cyclone-induced floods and landslides across three provinces on Sumatra island has now surpassed 900, with 274 people still missing according to government data.
Volunteers at distribution centres handed out clean clothes and provided fresh water from tanker trucks.
The storm systems also killed approximately 200 people in southern Thailand and Malaysia.
Residents described being cut off for a week, with students at an Islamic boarding school forced to boil and drink floodwater.
“We stayed for about a week there,” said 14-year-old Dimas Firmansyah.
He urged the government to witness the calamity firsthand.
Local officials have called on Jakarta to declare a national emergency to unlock additional rescue and relief funds.
President Prabowo Subianto stated earlier this week that the situation was improving and current arrangements were sufficient.
Environmental groups, however, blame deforestation for aggravating the disaster’s impact.
Indonesia’s environment ministry is investigating companies suspected of clearing forests around flood-hit areas.
It has temporarily halted the operations of several firms, including North Sumatra Hydro Energy and miner Agincourt Resources.
The ministry said aerial surveys show land-clearing in the Batang Toru region that may have exacerbated the flooding.
It will require the companies to perform environmental audits.
Agincourt Resources declined to comment, stating it had not received an official letter on the operational halt.
North Sumatra Hydro Energy and state agricultural group Perkebunan Nusantara III did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
