Bangkok (EFE).– The death toll from floods devastating Indonesia’s northern Sumatra Island climbed to 921 on Sunday, according to the latest figures from the emergency agency.
Search and rescue teams are still trying to locate 392 people who are reported missing – a decrease of 128 compared to Saturday’s figures – among the mudslides that have buried entire houses in some of the worst-affected regions.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited Aceh province in northern Sumatra, one of the areas hardest hit by the disaster, where he announced several economic aid measures for those affected.
«The debts are forgiven because this is an extraordinary event. The debts will be written off,» the president told a group of farmers in the village of Teupin Mane, local channel CNBC reported.
Prabowo, who traveled from Aceh to Pakistan for a two-day official visit, urged authorities to expedite the distribution of humanitarian aid and food.
In the most remote areas, where there is still no land access, teams are using drones and helicopters to transport supplies.
In addition to Indonesia, the country most affected by the recent series of cyclones in South and Southeast Asia, severe flooding has also been recorded in recent weeks in Thailand, with more than 275 deaths, and in Sri Lanka, where the death toll exceeds 620.
The tropical storm and typhoon season has been particularly harsh this year for these countries.
Experts attribute the intensity to ocean warming, while their devastating impact is linked to deforestation and a lack of urban planning, among other factors. EFE
nc/pd
