Death Toll From Southeast Asia Floods Surpasses 1,500, Calls To Fight Deforestation
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The death toll from the floods in parts of Asia passed 1,500 on Thursday as rescue teams raced to reach survivors and hundreds of people gathered across the region.
The latest figure came as meteorologists warned of renewed rain in all parts of Indonesia – including the provinces of North Sumatra, West Sumatra – in the coming days, in the coming days, raising fears of deadly floods.
This disaster was compounded by decades-old warnings that bad times caused by lack of development, mines and palm oil positions may have increased destruction. Calls grew for the government to take action.
“We need the government to investigate and fix the forest management,” said Rangga Adiputra, a 31-year-old teacher whose home in West Sumatra was flooded. The hills above his village on the outskirts of Padang, Indonesia, had been cleared by illegal logging.
“We don’t want this costly tragedy to happen again.”
Authorities say 836 people have been confirmed dead in Indonesia, 479 in Sri Lanka and 185 in Thailand, and three in Malaysia.
Many villages in Indonesia and Sri Lanka remain buried under mud and debris, with 859 people left unbelievers in both countries.
It is reported that thousands faced severe shortages of food and clean water in restricted areas. Floods and flooding washed out roads and bridges and knocked out telecommunications, leaving many communities inaccessible.
Indonesian television showed images of large amounts of discarded ammunition being washed up in North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh.
Indonesia’s leading local Walhi said decades of deforestation – driven by mining, palm oil plantations and illegal logging – have broken down natural barriers that once provided rain and stable soil.
“The disaster was not just the fury of nature, it was compounded by decades of deforestation,” said Rianda Purba, a spokesperson for the group. “Deforestation and uncontrolled development have stripped sumatra of its resilience.”
Rescue teams have reached survivors and found more bodies as the death toll from last week’s flash floods and evacuation centers has reached more than 1,300 in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. About 900 people are still missing.
The group recorded more than 240,000 hectares of primary forest lost by 2024 alone, leaving Sumatra’s small river basins exposed to danger.
Another environmental group, Global Forest Watch, said that the three flooded states with 19,000 square kilometers have lost 19,600 square kilometers of forest, an area larger than the state of New Jersey.
“Unless Restoration Begins Now, Many Lives Will Be Lost,” Surbha warned.
Indonesian President Prabowo Suinton Polwerment Reforms after visiting flood affected areas on Monday.
“We must really prevent deforestation and forest destruction. Protecting our forests is important,” said Prabowowo.
In Batang Toru in North Sumatra, where seven companies operate, hundreds of hectares have been cleared by mining and power projects, leaving slopes exposed and slopes depressed. Rivers swelled with runoff and wood, and villages were buried or swept away.
Lawmakers want the companies’ permits to be revoked.
Facing public outrage, the Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq announced an investigation into eight companies suspected of aggravating the disaster. He said the environmental permits will be reviewed and future inspections should be conducted in the future for heavy rain conditions.
“He has to answer to someone,” he said.
The latest weather forecast predicts heavy rain and thunderstorms Friday through Saturday, with mudslides and swollen rivers and streams leaving communities on edge.
For SAFNIDA, a 67-year-old survivor, the forecast brings renewed anxiety.
“We can’t expect life to be always good, perfect
“At my age, I don’t know if I can survive,” said Safnida, who goes by one name like many Indonesians.
