“At least 303 people have died as a result of devastating floods and landslides caused by a powerful cyclone on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Source: Reuters with reference to the statement of the head of the national emergency agency of Indonesia
Details: According to the latest data, the natural disaster led to mass casualties and destruction in the westernmost part of the country. In addition to the confirmed dead, at least 279 people are currently missing.
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Rescue services conducted a large-scale evacuation, taking about 80 thousand people to safe places. Despite this, hundreds of residents are still stranded in the three affected provinces on the island of Sumatra.
“We are trying to restore the connection between North Tapanuli and Sibolga (in the province of North Sumatra), which has been completely cut off for the third day,” the head of the agency said.
The official explained that the rescuers are trying to make their way through the rubble on the roads, which were formed as a result of landslides. There are people who are in urgent need of help on the blocked road sections.
The authorities announced the strengthening of the rescue operation. It is expected that additional military personnel will be involved in the rescue operation.
What preceded:
- Much of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, has been hit by torrential rains over the past week. Meteorologists associate the bad weather with a cyclone and the formation of a tropical storm in the waters of the Strait of Malacca.
- The element also hit neighboring Thailand. Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said the death toll from floods in southern Thailand had risen to 162.