More than 800 individuals were reported missing on Monday following catastrophic floods that resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand last week. The fatalities included at least 604 in Indonesia, 366 in Sri Lanka, and 176 in Thailand, as confirmed by authorities.
President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia committed to reconstructing damaged infrastructure while touring the impacted regions. Some areas remained inaccessible due to road damage and disrupted communication lines, necessitating the use of aircraft to deliver essential supplies to residents.
In Indonesia, 464 people were unaccounted for, and the flooding forced 290,700 individuals to evacuate from North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.
Prabowo emphasized the urgency of effectively addressing climate change, stating, “Local governments play a crucial role in environmental protection and readiness for the anticipated extreme weather patterns resulting from climate change.”
In Sri Lanka, rescue teams were actively searching for 367 missing persons, with approximately 218,000 individuals seeking refuge in temporary shelters after enduring heavy rainfall leading to landslides, particularly in the central hill country known for tea cultivation.
In Thailand, the initial compensation disbursements were set to commence on Monday, with 239 million baht ($10.9 million Cdn.) allocated to assist 26,000 affected individuals, as announced by government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat.
More than 1,000 people are dead after powerful floods and landslides hit three Asian countries, leaving hundreds more missing.
The focus in Thailand was on restoring essential services like water and electricity in the southern regions, where 3.9 million individuals were severely affected by the flooding.
During his visit to North Sumatra and with plans to visit West Sumatra and Aceh, President Prabowo remarked on the government’s prompt assistance reaching those in distress.
“We need to confront climate change effectively,” reiterated Prabowo to journalists following his interactions with survivors, stressing the critical role of local governments in environmental preservation and preparedness for future climate change-induced extreme weather conditions.
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