In Indonesia's northern Sumatra Island, floods and landslides triggered by recent heavy rains have continued, pushing the death toll past 1,000.
On the 13th (local time), according to Reuters, EFE and AFP, Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency said 1,003 people died and 218 were missing over two weeks across 52 areas in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra. The injured totaled 5,400.
The National Disaster Management Agency said 1,200 public facilities, 219 medical facilities, 581 educational facilities, 434 religious facilities and 145 bridges were damaged. In the hardest-hit Aceh, about 60% remains without power, and temporary shelters crowded with evacuees are short of drinking water, medicines and other relief supplies.
As recovery drags, residents' frustration is growing. Aceh resident Syarul, 39, told AFP, "I don't know who to rely on."
Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto returned to Aceh the previous day, apologized for the delayed support and said the government would continue to help. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said a new economic support package for recovery would be announced within days. The National Disaster Management Agency said it would set up "integrated shelters" providing food, medical, sanitation and psychological services.
The Indonesian government estimated that the expense to restore dwellings and public facilities in the three provinces would reach $3.1 billion (about 4.56 trillion won). However, the dispatches said the government has not declared a national disaster and has declined international assistance.
The heavy rains did not stop with Indonesia. According to the dispatches, the cyclone (tropical depression) "Ditwa" also brought floods and landslides to Sri Lanka, leaving 640 dead and 211 missing. Including Thailand (275 dead) and Malaysia (3 dead), the death toll across the four countries stood at 1,921.
Experts said the damage was exacerbated by heavier downpours driven by climate change, compounded by reckless development such as logging and inadequate disaster prevention systems.