Over 800 individuals were reported missing on Monday following catastrophic floods that claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand last week. The casualties included at least 604 in Indonesia, 366 in Sri Lanka, and 176 in Thailand.
During his visit to affected regions, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto committed to the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. Some areas remained inaccessible due to road damage and communication disruptions, prompting residents to depend on air transport for essential supplies.
The National Disaster Management Agency disclosed that 290,700 individuals were displaced in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces, with 464 people still missing in Indonesia. President Prabowo emphasized the urgent need to address climate change, urging local authorities to play a pivotal role in environmental protection and preparedness for future extreme weather events.
In Sri Lanka, search and rescue operations were ongoing for 367 missing persons, while approximately 218,000 individuals sought refuge in temporary shelters following landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, notably in the central hill region known for tea cultivation.
In Thailand, the government announced the commencement of compensation disbursements totaling 239 million baht ($10.9 million Cdn.) for 26,000 affected individuals on Monday. Efforts to restore infrastructure, including water and electricity services in the southern region, which was severely impacted by flooding affecting 3.9 million people, were underway.
President Prabowo, having visited North Sumatra and scheduled visits to West Sumatra and Aceh, assured that government assistance was effectively reaching those in need. Emphasizing the importance of proactive climate change mitigation, he reiterated the essential role of local governments in environmental protection and readiness for future climatic challenges.