Death toll from floods in Indonesia passes 500

The death toll from floods that swept through Indonesia last week has risen to more than 500, with rescue workers still battling the affected areas.

The floods, caused by a rare typhoon that formed in the Malacca Strait, hit three provinces and affected 1.4 million people, according to the government’s disaster agency.

Another 500 people remain missing, while thousands more are injured.

Indonesia is the only part of Asia hit by heavy rain and storms in recent days, with Thailand, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka all also reporting deaths.

In Indonesia, the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra were hard hit, with thousands still without critical equipment.

Arinia Amalia, a resident from the Regency of Aceh Jaya, told the BBC that the floods were “like a tsunami”.

“According to my grandmother, it was the worst, the worst of her life,” Amalia said.

Aid workers are trying to reach people on foot and by motorcycle, as many roads are impassable for larger vehicles.

Photos from the region show washed-out bridges, roads covered in mud and debris, and tall logs.

In West Sumatra’s Twid Bridgark shelter, where the floods erupted and deposited a lot of mud and garbage they found family members including his 15-year-old son.

“Seeing the diggers, seeing how much mud there was … I kept thinking, what will my son be like if they find him?” He said. “Will he still be with me? My mother, my brother-in-law… seeing how it is here, maybe their faces won’t be recognized anymore.”

Many are still waiting for food aid, with some saying they haven’t eaten in two to three days.

MaySanti, who lives in Central Tapanuli which is one of the worst hit in North Sumatra, told the BBC that aid workers are having trouble reaching his district.

“Everything is gone; our food supplies are gone. We can’t eat,” he said. “Even the instant noodles are in jail at the moment. We have lost food; we need food and rice. Our access will be completely cut off.”

He said he had to walk from his home to get an Internet connection and basic necessities, such as clean water.

In Central Aceh where the local authorities provided starlink devices, thousands were seen outside the office of the deputy on Sunday night to meet their loved ones.

“It’s been five days without a signal. We’ve been waiting since yesterday for the network to come back.

As rescue efforts continued, anger began to grow toward the government’s disaster response.

Critics say the authorities are ill-prepared for the floods. Others blame bureaucratic red tape for the slowdown in food aid distribution.

On Monday, President Pruabi Subianto – who visited some of the affected areas in North Sumatra – summarized some of the ways that can be done to overcome the difficulties “.

“We face this disaster with strength and unity,” he continued. “Our country is strong now, able to overcome this.”