Death toll rises, hundreds missing as Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand struggle to reach flood victims
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Indonesia’s president told survivors of last week’s devastating floods on Monday that help was reaching those in need as Asian governments stepped up their response to the disaster that has killed more than 1,000 people in three countries.
Hundreds of people are missing after floods and landslides last week killed at least 469 people in Indonesia, 334 in Sri Lanka and 170 in Thailand, officials said.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto promised to rebuild infrastructure as he visited areas hit by floods and landslides on the island of Sumatra, which left thousands homeless and 474 missing as of Monday.
Some areas of Indonesia remained inaccessible on Monday after the disaster damaged roads and destroyed communications lines, with residents in affected areas relying on planes to deliver supplies. The National Disaster Management Agency said the floods displaced 290,700 people in North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh provinces.
Prabowo, who visited North Sumatra on Monday and was expected to visit West Sumatra and Aceh during the day, said the government’s response was reaching those in need.
“We need to combat climate change effectively,” Prabowo told reporters after meeting survivors. “Local governments must play an important role in protecting the environment and preparing for future extreme weather conditions resulting from climate change.”
More than 1,000 people have been killed and hundreds are missing due to powerful floods and landslides in three Asian countries.
Sri Lankan officials said on Monday that rescue workers were still searching for 370 missing people. About 148,000 people have been put in temporary shelters in the mainly tea-growing central hill country after torrential rains last week flooded homes, farms and roads and caused landslides.
In Thailand, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Saturday outlined recovery and compensation plans for the southern part of the country, where the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said severe flooding in 12 southern provinces had affected more than 1.4 million homes and 3.8 million people.
