Nigeria: Indonesia flood death toll reaches 631

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

The death toll from the flash floods and landslides that swept across Sumatra, Indonesia, rose to 631 on Tuesday, according to the country’s disaster agency. The agency reported that more than one million people have been evacuated, while 472 individuals remain missing and are being sought by rescue teams.

Heavy rains triggered rivers to overflow and caused landslides in several districts, overwhelming local infrastructure. Rescue personnel have been working around the clock, evacuating vulnerable residents—including the sick and elderly—to nearby hospitals and temporary shelters. In Bireuen, Aceh province, a villager was carried on a stretcher to a medical facility on November 29, illustrating the scale of the emergency.

Government ministries, together with national and international aid organizations, are mobilising food, clean water, medical supplies, and shelter materials for those displaced. The disaster agency warned that the situation remains volatile, with further rain forecast in the coming days, which could hamper ongoing rescue operations.

The tragedy has prompted a broader discussion about disaster preparedness and climate resilience in the region. Officials are urging communities to adhere to evacuation orders and to report any signs of rising water or landslide risk immediately.