JAKARTA – Rescuers in Indonesia reported a grim milestone on Saturday, with floods and landslides on Sumatra island claiming 1,003 lives over the past two weeks, as the Southeast Asian archipelago battles widespread devastation and mounting relief challenges.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency’s latest update also tallied over 5,400 injuries, 218 people still missing, and 1.2 million residents displaced into temporary shelters across vast affected areas. Torrential rains have ravaged northwestern Sumatra, evoking memories of the 2004 Aceh tsunami that killed over 230,000 in the region.
Frustration simmers among survivors over the slow pace of aid, though President Prabowo Subianto insisted conditions are stabilizing. After inspecting evacuation sites in North Sumatra’s Langkat district, he noted: “Here and there, natural and physical conditions caused slight delays, but all sites have good conditions, adequate services, and sufficient food supplies.” Several isolated zones are now accessible.
Rebuilding costs could top 51.82 trillion rupiah (US$4 billion), but Jakarta has rejected calls for foreign aid so far. Officials warn the death toll may climb as searches continue amid fears of further landslides.