More than 800 individuals were unaccounted for on Monday following deadly floods that claimed the lives of over 1,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand last week. The casualties included at least 604 in Indonesia, 366 in Sri Lanka, and 176 in Thailand.
During his visit to the affected areas, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto promised to reconstruct damaged infrastructure. Due to impassable roads and communication disruptions, some regions were inaccessible, forcing residents to rely on air deliveries for essential supplies.
In Indonesia, 464 people were reported missing, and flooding forced the displacement of 290,700 individuals in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.
Addressing reporters, President Prabowo emphasized the need for proactive measures against climate change, stressing the crucial role of local governments in environmental protection and readiness for future extreme weather events.
In Sri Lanka, authorities confirmed the search for 367 missing persons while approximately 218,000 people sought refuge in temporary shelters following landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, primarily in the central hill country.
In Thailand, the distribution of initial compensation payments totaling 239 million baht ($10.9 million Cdn.) for 26,000 individuals began on Monday, as confirmed 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, including water and electricity services, in the southern regions of Thailand, where approximately 3.9 million individuals were impacted by severe flooding.
President Prabowo, having visited North Sumatra and planning visits to West Sumatra and Aceh, assured that the government’s response was effectively reaching those in need.
“We need to confront climate change effectively,” reiterated Prabowo to reporters following his interactions with survivors, emphasizing the critical role of local governments in environmental protection and readiness for future climate challenges.
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