At Least 700 Killed in Storms, Floods and Landslides in Indonesia’s Sumatra

More than 700 people have lost their lives on Indonesia’s Sumatra island after torrential rainfall, brought by a tropical storm, triggered landslides and devastating floods.

The catastrophe is being described as the deadliest disaster to strike the island since the catastrophic tsunami of 2004.

According to Reuters, many in the country are blaming widespread deforestation for the scale of the devastation. Local resident Reliowati Siregar expressed anger over the extensive clearing of forests around her home in Tapanuli, the worst-affected area. Speaking from a temporary shelter near her destroyed home, she said, “Evil hands have cut down the trees. They do not care about the forests, and now we are paying the price.”

Government data show that a quarter of all deaths reported across Indonesia from this disaster occurred in Tapanuli alone. Siregar said landslides have buried homes, while rescue and relief efforts are being hampered. Floodwaters have also swept large tree trunks towards the coast.

The 62-year-old, unable to contain her frustration, said loudly, “Rain causes flooding, but it cannot wash away this amount of timber. Raindrops do not uproot trees.”

Source: Reuters

Khaborwala/SS