Emergency crews in Indonesia faced immense difficulties Saturday as they attempted to reach survivors in several remote areas of Sumatra that were devastated by a combination of earthquakes, floods and landslides, with authorities reporting at least 248 confirmed deaths.
Severely damaged roads, collapsed bridges and disrupted communication lines left many communities cut off, forcing relief teams to rely on aircraft to deliver essential supplies to Central Tapanuli in North Sumatra and other isolated districts. The National Disaster Management Agency (Bnpb) said the number of injured has surpassed 500, reports UNB.
A week of monsoon rains triggered rivers to overflow, sending torrents of water, mud and rocks through villages and sweeping away homes. Thousands of houses were inundated, and nearly 3,000 families have taken shelter in government-run facilities.
In West Sumatra’s Agam district, rescuers continued to uncover bodies from deep mud, bringing the region’s death toll to at least 74, while more than 70 people remain missing. Scenes of grief unfolded as families watched recovery teams pull victims from buried homes in Salareh Aia village.
Efforts in neighboring Aceh province were similarly hindered, with heavy rainfall blocking access routes and limiting the arrival of essential machinery. Police, soldiers and villagers dug with hand tools as persistent downpours slowed operations. Officials warned that the toll would likely rise as many areas remain unreachable.
Aceh’s governor declared an emergency through Dec. 11, noting dire shortages of fuel, clean water and generators. Local media reported that flash floods had collapsed nine bridges in Bireuen district, cutting off key transportation routes and forcing residents to use boats to move between villages.
Indonesia, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” regularly faces deadly natural disasters, and seasonal rains often trigger severe flooding and landslides across the vast island nation.
