This Monday, December 1, Indonesia’s disaster management agency raised the number of victims caused by the floods that hit the island of Sumatra, in the west of the country: There are already 502 dead, with more than 500 people still missing.
The floods are occurring following the passage of a tropical meteorological phenomenon considered rare, according to BBC information. This is the Cyclone Senyar, which caused torrential rain, flash floods and landslides.
Some of the survivors said they saw their homes being swept away by the force of the floods “in a matter of minutes”. There are reports of several people already in desperate search for drinking water and food, while criticism of the government’s response to this catastrophe is beginning to emerge, given the delay in aid arriving to the victims.
With several areas still flooded and roads closed, volunteers have been distributing essential items on foot.