Floods and landslides in multiple areas of Sumatra have resulted in 867 deaths and 4,200 injuries, with another 521 people missing.
According to a report by Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency on the 5th, joint forces composed of rescue teams, military police, and volunteers are continuing to expand the search area, conducting search and rescue operations in multiple regions where victims are suspected to still be buried by floodwaters or landslides. Given the complexity of the situation on the ground, the casualty figures may continue to change.
The Indonesian military stated that emergency rescue operations are being stepped up in the three hardest-hit provinces: Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. This includes setting up temporary bridges, delivering food and other relief supplies to regions cut off from the outside world, deploying water purification equipment, and continuing to air-drop food and medicine to areas where roads are blocked.
Rhumita, a 42-year-old civil servant from Aceh province, told AFP: "Our house is buried up to the ceiling with mud… The area around the house is piled with wood."
Currently taking shelter in a school, Rhumita believes that it "may take more than a year" to recover from the impact of the floods.
"This is a disaster we have to face," said 37-year-old Hendra.
Hendra expressed concern that people in remote areas are at risk of hunger.