Authorities reported that some individuals on the flood-affected Sumatra island in Indonesia have turned to theft of essential supplies like food and water to survive, as disclosed on Sunday. Sri Lankan officials also confirmed that the death toll from floods and mudslides in their country has climbed to 193.
In Indonesia, the floods that struck nearly a week ago have claimed the lives of 442 individuals, with the number of casualties expected to increase as more bodies are recovered. Furthermore, the calamity has displaced around 290,700 residents, causing landslides, road damage, isolation of parts of the island, and disruption of communication networks.
The National Disaster Management Agency stated that 402 people are currently unaccounted for in Indonesia’s North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces.
The rescue operations have been hindered by adverse weather conditions and a shortage of heavy equipment. The delivery of aid to the severely impacted city of Sibolga and the Central Tapanuli district in North Sumatra has been slow.
Videos circulating on social media exhibit people breaching barriers, navigating flooded roads, and traversing damaged areas to access essential supplies like food, medicine, and fuel. Some individuals have even navigated waist-high floodwaters to reach damaged stores.
A police representative, Ferry Walintukan, mentioned receiving reports of looting incidents at shops on Saturday evening. Regional police forces were promptly dispatched to restore order.
Walintukan explained, “The looting occurred prior to the arrival of logistical aid. The residents were unaware of impending assistance and feared starvation.”
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya declared that eleven helicopters were dispatched from Jakarta to facilitate ongoing logistics distribution in the affected regions the day following the disaster. However, aid operations have been frequently impeded by unpredictable weather.
The Cabinet Secretariat released footage showcasing the military dropping supplies to the affected zones. In North Tapanuli village, survivors energetically signaled to the aid-carrying helicopters. Concurrently, four navy vessels docked at a port to assist in distributing aid.
On the other hand, officials in Sri Lanka confirmed that the death toll from the flooding and mudslides has surged to 193, with an additional 228 individuals still missing.
Approximately 148,000 individuals have been displaced from their residences and are accommodated in temporary shelters.
Sri Lanka has been grappling with severe weather conditions since the prior week, exacerbated by heavy rains causing flooding of homes, fields, and roads along with landslides, particularly in the central hill country known for tea cultivation.
Authorities have alerted that Cyclone Ditwah, originating in the seas east of Sri Lanka, is anticipated to head towards the southern coast of India on Sunday.
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