JAKARTA – The death toll from flash floods and landslides that devastated three provinces in Indonesia’s Sumatra region has risen to 303, with 279 people still missing, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported on Saturday.
BNPB chief Suharyanto said North Sumatra recorded the highest number of casualties with 166 deaths and 143 missing.
In West Sumatra, authorities confirmed 90 fatalities and 85 missing, while in Aceh, 47 deaths were reported and 51 people remain unaccounted for.
Suharyanto presided over a coordination meeting with BNPB teams deployed in the worst-hit areas and stressed the need to intensify operations as weather conditions begin to improve.
He said the agency is prioritizing three critical tasks: locating those still missing, restoring communication lines, and ensuring rapid delivery of aid and essential supplies to affected communities. (Xinhua)