More than 800 individuals were reported missing as of Monday following deadly floods that claimed over 1,000 lives last week in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The casualties included at least 604 in Indonesia, 366 in Sri Lanka, and 176 in Thailand.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, while touring affected regions, promised to reconstruct damaged infrastructure. Some areas remained inaccessible due to road damage and disrupted communication lines, with residents relying on air deliveries for supplies.
In Indonesia, 464 people were unaccounted for, and flooding forced around 290,700 individuals to evacuate in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.
“We must tackle climate change decisively,” stated Prabowo during his discussions with the press. He emphasized the crucial role of local governments in environmental protection and readiness for future extreme weather conditions linked to climate change.
In Sri Lanka, authorities reported 367 missing persons, with about 218,000 individuals seeking refuge in temporary shelters after being affected by heavy rains and resulting landslides, particularly in the central hill country.
In Thailand, the government began distributing compensation payments on Monday, starting with 239 million baht ($10.9 million Cdn.) for 26,000 individuals, as stated 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.
Efforts were underway to restore infrastructure like water and electricity in southern Thailand, where severe flooding affected 3.9 million individuals.
Prabowo, who inspected North Sumatra and was scheduled to visit West Sumatra and Aceh, reassured that the government’s relief efforts were reaching the affected population.
“We must tackle climate change decisively,” reiterated Prabowo during his interactions with survivors. He stressed the necessity for local governments to play a significant role in environmental protection and preparedness for future extreme weather events associated with climate change.
<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/death-toll-from-floods-in-indonesia-sri-lanka-and-thailand-passes-1-000-with-hundreds-missing-9.6998354"