Search on as hundreds go missing after severe flooding in Indonesia

International

INDONESIA is racing to locate more than 400 people still missing nearly a week after rare cyclonic rains triggered catastrophic flooding and landslides across Sumatra, where the official death toll has climbed past 440.

Many of the missing are feared buried beneath mud and debris as rescue teams struggle to reach isolated communities, a report by BBC said.

The storms, caused by Cyclone Senyar—an exceptionally rare tropical system in this part of the world—ravaged large swathes of Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, sweeping away homes, submerging thousands of buildings and cutting off entire towns.

The National Disaster Management Agency said Central Tapanuli and Sibolga remain completely isolated, with aid ships expected to arrive in Sibolga on Monday.

Relief operations are hindered by damaged infrastructure, and although supplies have been flown and shipped into affected zones, many villages have received nothing.

Reports of residents stealing food and water have emerged as communities struggle to survive.

Police said officers were deployed after shops were looted in parts of Sumatra by people desperate for basic necessities.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)