Heavy floods displace over 30,000 in Indonesia
Continuous rain has exacerbated the situation since the December 31 flash floods.
Three children have died and more than 32,000 people have been displaced on the Indonesian island of Sumatra following a week of heavy rain. Many more people across the region are missing.
On December 31, 2021, torrential rains deluged the island, causing devastating flash floods in four districts. Persistent rain has since submerged parts of Northern Sumatra.
In pictures: Heavy rainfall causes floods in Indonesia's North Aceh pic.twitter.com/9eIHugdLOh
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) January 4, 2022
As more than 11,000 homes have been submerged, residents from the most affected areas have sought refuge in mosques, temporary shelters, and public buildings.
Floodwaters have begun to recede in some areas, but many areas remain submerged, making them inaccessible and impeding relief and rescue efforts. Officials in North Aceh have declared a state of emergency until January 15.
While officials' immediate priority is to rescue those who have been injured or harmed by the floods, some are concerned about what will happen next.