Heavy seasonal rains have triggered devastating floods and landslides in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, resulting in a significant loss of life and widespread damage. Homes, agricultural lands, and vital infrastructure have been submerged across affected regions.
In Indonesia, the death toll from floods across three provinces on the island of Sumatra has reached 100, with a further 98 individuals reported missing, according to official figures released Friday morning. The province of North Sumatra has recorded the highest number of fatalities.
The Indonesian military has initiated airlifts to deliver emergency aid, as floodwaters have severed crucial transportation routes between provinces. The relentless flow of rivers has also led to the collapse of several key bridges, further hindering rescue and relief efforts.
The province of Aceh, located in the westernmost part of Indonesia, has also been severely impacted by the heavy rainfall, leading to landslides and the evacuation of approximately 1,500 residents, according to the local disaster agency. Power outages have been reported in parts of the province.
Earlier this month, 38 people were killed in landslides caused by torrential rains in central Java, with about 13 still missing. Indonesia, along with neighboring Malaysia and Thailand, has experienced unusually heavy rainfall in recent days, causing dozens of deaths across the region.
In Sri Lanka, government offices and schools were closed Friday as the death toll from floods and landslides nationwide climbed to 56. Over 600 homes have been damaged by the extreme weather. Sri Lanka began experiencing severe weather last week, with conditions worsening on Thursday due to torrential rains that inundated homes, fields, and roads, and triggered landslides throughout the country.
More than 25 people were killed Thursday in landslides in the central mountainous tea-growing regions of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, located approximately 300 kilometers east of the capital, Colombo. Twenty-one others remain missing.
