One million people evacuated in Indonesia as death toll from floods surpasses 600

"The death toll from flooding and landslides across Indonesia's Sumatra island has risen to 631, the country's disaster agency said, as one million people were evacuated from high-risk areas. Heavy monsoon rains and tropical cyclones have devastated parts of Asia this week, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Southern Thailand, killing more than 1,160 people across the region, destroying infrastructure and inundating towns."

"In Indonesia alone, 3.2 million people have been affected by the floods, while 2,600 have been injured and 472 people remain missing. Aid workers and response teams are racing to reach survivors, but have been hampered by blocked roads and broken bridges, and some areas of northern Sumatra remain inaccessible by road. In Aceh, one of the hardest hit areas, markets are running out of rice, vegetables and other essentials, and prices have tripled, according to Islamic Relief,"

"The World Health Organization said it was deploying rapid response teams and critical supplies to the region, and strengthening disease surveillance. The agency's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva that it was another reminder of how climate change is driving more frequent and more extreme weather events, with disastrous effects. Survivors, many of whom are staying in evacuation shelters, have described how powerful currents of water arrived rapidly and submerged villages."

Flooding and landslides across Sumatra have killed 631 people and prompted the evacuation of one million residents from high-risk areas. Heavy monsoon rains and tropical cyclones have affected parts of Asia, killing over 1,160 people regionally and inundating towns. In Indonesia, 3.2 million people have been affected, 2,600 injured and 472 remain missing, while transportation and access are impeded by blocked roads and broken bridges. Aceh faces severe risk of food shortages as markets run out of staples and prices have tripled; the government is sending rice and cooking oil and charities are dispatching emergency aid. Health agencies are deploying response teams and strengthening disease surveillance.

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