Authorities in Indonesia and Sri Lanka struggled on Wednesday to reach survivors of deadly floods in remote and isolated regions, as the death toll from the disaster that hit four countries surpassed 1,500.
In Indonesia, survivors expressed growing frustration at the slow pace of rescue efforts and aid delivery, while humanitarian groups warned that the scale of the challenge was almost unprecedented, even in a country that has faced a host of natural disasters.
Monsoon rains, combined with two tropical storm systems, caused record flooding in Sri Lanka and parts of Sumatra in Indonesia, southern Thailand and northern Malaysia last week.
In Indonesia, 770 people were confirmed dead, the country’s disaster management agency said Wednesday, revising downwards the figure of 812 it announced earlier in the day. Another 463 people are also missing.
Information is barely coming in, as many regions remain physically isolated by flood damage, isolated by power and communications failures, or both.
“It’s very logistically difficult to respond,” said Ade Soekadis, executive director of aid group Mercy Corps Indonesia.
“The magnitude of the damage and the size of the affected area is truly enormous.” The group hopes to send hygiene kits and water, both from Jakarta and locally.
He said reports of food and water shortages were already “very worrying” and that the situation will become “more problematic as time goes on.”
At an evacuation center in Pandan, Reinaro Waruwu, 52, said AFP He was “disappointed” by the government’s immediate response and the slow arrival of aid.
“Some waited a day and a night before receiving help, so they couldn’t be saved,” he said, surrounded by evacuees sitting on mats on the floor of the hallway converted into a shelter.
“I’m frustrated, it goes without saying twice,” he added.
He described the flooding and landslides as unprecedented.
“It was like an earthquake… I thought, ‘Well, if I’m going to die, so be it,’” she said, beginning to sob deeply.
Traumatized, he could not even eat upon his arrival, and food was only partially available, although the vegetables that arrived on Tuesday offered a “semblance of hope,” he said.
Nearby, Hamida Telaumbaunua, 37, described how she saw her entire kitchen washed away by the floods.
“My heart… this was the first time I experienced a flood of this kind,” he said.
His house was completely lost, along with everything but the few possessions he took with him when he left.
“It’s hard to think about what awaits us. Maybe while we’re here, it’ll be okay, but later… I don’t know what will happen.”
In northern Aceh, M. Atar, 30, said some areas were barely becoming accessible as roads were cleared.
“We urgently need drinking water. We need it very much,” he said.
The weather system that hit Indonesia also brought heavy rains in Thailand, killing at least 267 people, authorities said today, and in Malaysia, where two people died.
Although flooding is common in Asia during the monsoon season, climate change is making heavy rains more frequent because a warmer atmosphere retains more moisture.
Warmer oceans can also accelerate storm systems.
A different weather system, Cyclone Ditwah, brought torrential rain and deadly flooding and landslides across much of Sri Lanka last week.
At least 474 people died and authorities have estimated the cost of the disaster at up to $7 billion.
Another 356 people are missing, including in some of the worst-affected regions that remain largely inaccessible.
Officials said laws that allow a person to be declared dead only after being missing for six months could be shortened to speed up the issuance of death certificates.
The government has said it will offer 25,000 rupees ($83) to families to help clean their homes. Those who lost their homes will receive up to $8,000.
On the outskirts of Colombo, RMV Lalith was beginning the cleaning of his two-story house.
“We managed to save some furniture by taking it upstairs, but the kitchen is a disaster,” he said. AFPwhile a family member helped remove mud from the living room.
Despite the disaster, the tourism-dependent country welcomed a luxury cruise ship to the port of Colombo on Tuesday, officials said.
The arrival sends “a clear message to the world: Sri Lanka is safe, open and ready to welcome visitors once again,” the country’s tourism office said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveyed Pakistan’s deepest condolences and solidarity to Indonesia during a telephone conversation with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
“The Prime Minister expressed his deepest condolences on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, calling the devastation a tragic human loss that Pakistan deeply regrets,” a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support, Prime Minister Shehbaz assured President Prabowo that the country was ready to provide all possible aid and humanitarian assistance.
He offered to share Pakistan’s extensive experience in handling large-scale natural disasters, including emergency response, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.
Highlighting the shared vulnerability of both countries to climate-induced calamities, the Prime Minister underscored the need for stronger bilateral cooperation on disaster preparedness, crisis management and climate resilience.
President Prabowo expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s message of solidarity and informed Prime Minister Shehbaz that the Indonesian authorities had acted quickly and effectively to manage the unfolding crisis.
The prime minister said he looked forward to welcoming President Prabowo to Pakistan during his scheduled official visit next week.
He noted that the visit would provide an important opportunity for both leaders to strengthen diplomatic relations and expand cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.
