Indonesia searches for hundreds missing in deadly floods

Rescuers in Indonesia are searching for at least 400 people considered missing, many believed to be buried under landslides, after torrential rains caused catastrophic flooding nearly a week ago.

The government says the death toll on the island of Sumatra has risen to more than 440 people.

Aid has been sent to affected areas by air and sea, but some villages have not yet received anything, and there are reports of people stealing food and water to survive.

Heavy rains and storms have devastated parts of Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, affecting millions of people and leaving more than 900 people dead across the region this month.

An extremely rare tropical storm, called Typhoon Sinyar, has caused landslides and catastrophic flooding in Indonesia, sweeping away homes and submerging thousands of buildings.

The National Disaster Management Agency said people were missing in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.

Agence France-Presse quoted the agency’s head, Suharyanto, as saying: “There are two cities that require full attention due to their isolation, namely Central Tapanuli and Sibolga.” He added that the ships are expected to arrive in Sibolga on Monday.

Some foreign aid has arrived, with Malaysia sending medical supplies to Aceh, one of the worst-hit provinces.

In the village of Sungai Nyalu, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from West Sumatra’s capital, Padang, floodwaters receded dramatically on Sunday, covering homes, vehicles and crops in thick gray mud, AFP reported.

Residents said that the authorities have not yet begun clearing the roads, and no outside help has arrived.

“Most of the villagers chose to stay, and did not want to leave their homes behind,” Idris, 55, told the news agency.

The Associated Press news agency quoted police spokesman Phiri Walintokan as saying that there were reports of people breaking into shops in Sumatra, and police had been sent to restore order.

Walintokan added, “The looting occurred before the logistical aid arrived.” “The residents did not know that aid was coming and were worried that they would starve.”

In another development, technology billionaire Elon Musk said that he will provide free Starlink services to support communications during emergencies.

There has been widespread destruction throughout the region.

At least 170 people died in floods in the country Thailand Many deaths were reported in Malaysia.

in Sri LankaMore than 330 people have died due to floods and mudslides as the country faces one of the worst climate disasters in years.

While the heavy rains have now subsided, floods continue to submerge low-lying areas in the capital, Colombo, and many areas in the center of the country remain cut off.

in FilipinoTens of thousands of people joined protests against government corruption on Sunday, for the second time this month, following a series of catastrophic floods that killed more than 200 people.

The government admitted that significant funds allocated to finance flood control had been lost due to corruption.

Public anger over the issue is now threatening the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Two large protests were held in the capital, Manila, one organized by the Roman Catholic Church and the other organized by unions, students and left-wing activists.

Their complaint is the same – that money allocated by the central government for flood defense has been diverted into the pockets of corrupt politicians, leaving many communities dangerously vulnerable to this year’s exceptionally heavy rainfall.

But determining who is responsible has become more difficult. Marcos Jr. sacked several politicians and officials whom he accused of stealing flood funds.

However, one of these politicians, now in hiding, accused the president himself of overseeing corruption, and Marcos Jr. dismissed this as propaganda.

His sister, Senator Imee Marcos, has now joined the opposition against him, and Vice President Sara Duterte, the president’s arch rival, says she is ready to take power if he is forced to resign. However, she is also facing various corruption allegations.

Much now depends on whether the protests continue in the coming weeks and whether more of the president’s allies desert him.

He will bear in mind that two of his predecessors, including his father, were overthrown by popular protest movements sparked by corruption.