Floods and landslides in Indonesia’s Sumatra kill at least 174
The death toll from floods and landslides on the Indonesian island of Sumatra island has risen to 174, up from the previous 94, the country’s disaster mitigation agency said on Friday, adding that dozens remain missing.
Communications remained down in some parts of the island, and authorities were working to restore power and clear roads that have been blocked by landslide debris, said Abdul Muhari, spokesman for Indonesia’s national disaster mitigation agency.
Indonesia will continue to airlift aid and rescue personnel into stricken areas on Friday, he added.
Authorities in the region were working to rescue stranded citizens, restore power and communications and coordinate recovery efforts as the waters began to recede.
Large parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have been stricken by cyclone-fuelled torrential rain for a week, with a rare tropical storm forming in the Malacca Strait.