Indonesian authorities have reported a sharp increase in casualties from devastating flash floods and landslides that struck Sumatra Island, with the official death toll reaching 442 as of Sunday. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) confirmed the grim figures following one of the most severe natural disasters to hit the archipelago nation in recent years.
North Sumatra Province has borne the brunt of the catastrophe, accounting for 217 confirmed fatalities with an additional 209 individuals still unaccounted for. BNPB Chief Suharyanto disclosed that rescue teams operating in South Tapanuli Regency continue to discover more victims as operations intensify.
The neighboring provinces continue to report staggering losses, with Aceh Province documenting 96 deaths and 75 missing persons, while West Sumatra has recorded 129 fatalities alongside 118 missing individuals. The widespread destruction follows torrential rainfall that triggered massive flooding and catastrophic landslides across multiple regions.
In response to the escalating humanitarian crisis, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has issued directives to mobilize all available national resources for emergency response operations. Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Pratikno emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing rapid rescue and relief efforts amid the ongoing devastation.
The disaster has prompted large-scale search and rescue missions involving military personnel, emergency services, and volunteer organizations working against challenging conditions to locate survivors and recover victims across the affected regions.