Flood recovery efforts under way in Asia as deaths rise
Rescue and aid efforts continue in some parts of Southeast Asia and South Asia, where the number of dead and missing is not yet known after heavy rains and devastating floods.
Severe weather killed at least 469 people in Indonesia, 162 in Thailand and 334 in Sri Lanka, officials said.
In Thailand, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Saturday outlined recovery and compensation plans for the southern part of the country.
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Agency said severe flooding in 12 southern provinces affected more than 1.4 million households and 3.8 million people.
Rescue teams are still searching for 370 missing people, Sri Lankan authorities said on Monday.
Approximately 148,000 people are being housed in temporary shelters after suffering heavy damage from last week’s heavy rains that flooded homes, fields and roads and triggered landslides, especially in tea-growing mountainous regions.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto vowed Monday to rebuild infrastructure as he visited areas affected by floods and landslides on the island of Sumatra that left thousands homeless and 474 people missing.
Parts of Indonesia were inaccessible on Monday after the disaster damaged roads and cut communication lines; Residents in affected areas relied on planes carrying supplies.
The National Disaster Management Agency said 290,700 people were displaced in North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh provinces due to flooding.
Prabowo, who visited North Sumatra on Monday and is expected to travel to West Sumatra and Aceh during the day, said the government’s intervention is reaching those in need.
“We need to combat climate change effectively,” Prabowo said. he said.
“Local governments must play an important role in protecting the environment and preparing for extreme weather conditions resulting from future climate change.”
