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Indonesia's Triple Tragedy: 174 Dead Amid Floods, Landslides and Quake

Indonesia is facing a devastating natural disaster crisis across multiple provinces. Flash floods and landslides have claimed 174 lives with 79 people still missing as rescue teams struggle to reach affected areas. The situation is complicated by damaged infrastructure that's making some regions completely inaccessible to emergency responders. Adding to the region's challenges, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Aceh's coast, though fortunately no additional casualties were reported from that event.

Key Points: Indonesia Floods Landslides Kill 174 with 79 Missing

  • North Sumatra records highest casualties with 116 deaths and 42 missing
  • Damaged roads and ongoing landslides hinder rescue operations in affected areas
  • Weather modification operations launched to divert rain clouds from high-risk zones
  • 6.3-magnitude earthquake strikes Aceh province adding to regional disaster risks
2 min read

Flash floods, landslides leave 174 dead, 79 missing in Indonesia

Deadly floods and landslides claim 174 lives across Indonesia's Sumatra provinces, with 79 missing and rescue efforts hampered by damaged infrastructure and ongoing risks.

"It is possible that more victims are located in landslide sites that remain inaccessible - BNPB Chief Suharyanto"

Jakarta, Nov 28

The number of fatalities from floods and landslides that struck Indonesia's Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra has risen to 174, with 79 people still missing and 12 others injured, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said on Friday.

BNPB Chief Suharyanto said during a press briefing that North Sumatra has recorded the highest number of victims, with 116 deaths and 42 people missing. Several affected areas remain inaccessible due to damaged roads and ongoing landslides, slowing rescue operations.

"It is possible that more victims are located in landslide sites that remain inaccessible," Suharyanto said, Xinhua news agency reported. In Aceh Province, 35 people have been confirmed dead, 25 remain missing, and eight others were injured.

West Sumatra reported 23 deaths, with 12 missing and 4 others injured. Flooding and landslides damaged roads and bridges across several districts, with around 3,900 households displaced to temporary shelters.

To reduce further risks, the BNPB has launched simultaneous Weather Modification Operations in the three affected provinces to divert rain clouds away from high-risk zones.

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake had also struck off the coast of Indonesia's Aceh province on Thursday morning, the country's meteorology and geophysics agency BMKG reported.

The quake occurred at 11:56 am local time with an epicentre located 62 km northwest of Sinabang town on the east coast of Simeulue Island, in the waters off Aceh. BMKG said the quake struck at a depth of 10 km.

A shakemap released by BMKG showed light to moderate shaking in parts of Simeulue Island and surrounding areas. There were no reports of casualties or damage.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', where multiple tectonic plates meet, making the region prone to frequent seismic activity.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Weather modification operations sound interesting - we should explore similar technologies in India for flood-prone areas like Assam and Kerala. The death toll is really alarming though, 174 lives lost is tragic.
S
Sarah B
First floods and landslides, then an earthquake? Indonesia really can't catch a break. The Pacific Ring of Fire makes them so vulnerable. We should learn from their disaster management approaches for our own coastal regions.
A
Arjun K
While the immediate response is crucial, I hope they're also thinking about long-term solutions. Climate change is making these extreme weather events more frequent. Deforestation and poor urban planning often worsen the impact.
V
Vikram M
3900 households displaced - that's thousands of people without homes during monsoon season. Hope international aid reaches them quickly. India should offer assistance given our geographical proximity and shared disaster challenges.
M
Michael C
The inaccessible areas due to damaged roads is the biggest concern. Same problem we face during Uttarakhand disasters. Modern technology like drones should be deployed immediately for assessment and aid delivery.

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