Indonesia searches for hundreds missing in deadly floods

Rescuers in Indonesia are searching for at least 400 people who have been reported missing, many believed to be buried under landslides, after cyclonic rains caused disastrous flooding nearly a week ago.

The death toll on the island of Sumatra has risen to more than 440, the government says.

Aid has been sent into affected areas by air and by sea, but some villages have yet to receive anything, and there are reports of people stealing food and water to survive.

Some foreign aid has arrived, with Malaysia sending medical supplies to Aceh, one of the worst-hit provinces.

Millions have been affected by heavy rains across South-East Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

An exceptionally rare tropical storm, named Cyclone Senyar, caused catastrophic landslides and flooding in Indonesia, with homes swept away and thousands of buildings submerged.

People are missing in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, the National Disaster Management Agency said.

“There are two cities that require full attention due to being isolated, namely Central Tapanuli and Sibolga,” agency head Suharyanto was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. Ships were expected in Sibolga on Monday, he added.

In Sungai Nyalo village, about 100km (62 miles) from West Sumatra’s capital Padang, floodwaters had mostly receded on Sunday, leaving homes, vehicles and crops coated in thick grey mud, AFP reports.

The authorities had not yet begun clearing roads, residents said, and no outside assistance had arrived.

“Most villagers chose to stay; they didn’t want to leave their houses behind,” Idris, 55, told the news agency.

Police spokesperson Ferry Walintukan said there were reports of people breaking into shops on Sumatra, and police had been sent in to restore order, the Associated Press news agency reported.

“The looting happened before logistical aid arrived,” Mr Walintukan added. “[Residents] didn’t know that aid would come and were worried they would starve.”

In another development, tech billionaire Elon Musk said he would provide free Starlink services to support communications during the emergency.

There has been widespread devastation across the region.

At least 170 people died in floods in Thailand and there were several deaths reported in Malaysia.

In the Philippines, tens of thousands of people have protested against government corruption, following a series of floods which killed more than 200 people this month.

And in Sri Lanka, at least 193 people died from floods and mudslides as the country grappled with one of its worst weather disasters in years.