Indonesia Flood Disaster Death Toll Rises to 442

In Indonesia, the number of people who have died in the severe floods and landslides
caused by heavy cyclonic rains has risen to 442.

The National Disaster Management Agency said yesterday that 402 people are still missing
in the provinces of North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh. Rescue teams are finding it
very difficult to reach the worst-affected areas.

Most of the damage is on Sumatra Island, where thousands of people have been cut off for
several days. Two cities — Central Tapanuli and Sibolga — are still completely unreachable.

President Prabowo Subianto visited the affected areas today to meet people suffering
after the massive floods.

The disaster was caused by a very rare tropical storm called Cyclone Senyar, which hit
Indonesia last week. It triggered deadly landslides and flooding, destroyed homes and
left thousands of buildings underwater.

Heavy rain and storms have also caused destruction in Thailand, Malaysia, the
Philippines and Sri Lanka, affecting millions of people and causing more than
900 deaths across Asia this month.