Padang Sidempuan: Recovery efforts are underway in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand after devastating floods left over 1,000 people dead and hundreds more missing across the three countries.
Authorities reported that at least 604 people have died in Indonesia, 366 in Sri Lanka, and 176 in Thailand, with hundreds still unaccounted for following last week’s floods and landslides.
In Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto visited flood-affected areas on Sumatra island, pledging to rebuild infrastructure and support displaced families. Thousands remain homeless, and 464 people are reported missing. Some regions remain inaccessible due to damaged roads and downed communications lines, with relief supplies being delivered by aircraft. The National Disaster Management Agency reported that 290,700 people have been displaced across North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces.
“We need to confront climate change effectively,” Prabowo said after visiting survivors in North Sumatra. “Local governments must take a significant role in safeguarding the environment and preparing for extreme weather conditions resulting from future climate change.” He vowed to help affected families rebuild homes destroyed or swept away by the floods. During a meeting with displaced people under tents in West Sumatra’s Padang Pariaman district, Prabowo assured them they “will not face the burden of this disaster alone.” He also visited survivors who fled to a government shelter in Aceh’s Kutacane district.
In Sri Lanka, rescuers continue searching for 367 missing individuals. Approximately 218,000 people are currently housed in temporary shelters after heavy rains flooded homes, fields, and roads, and triggered landslides, particularly in the tea-growing central hill country.
Thailand has begun distributing compensation payments, with the first batch totaling 239 million baht (USD 7.4 million) for 26,000 people. Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat said authorities are cleaning streets, restoring infrastructure including water and electricity, and setting up public kitchens to provide freshly cooked meals to affected residents. Severe flooding in southern Thailand impacted more than 1.5 million households and 3.9 million people.
Asian governments have intensified relief efforts as recovery operations continue across all three countries.
With PTI inputs