The death toll from floods and landslides on Sumatra island in Indonesia rose to 708 on Tuesday, according to the disaster agency, as efforts intensified to fix infrastructure and provide aid to isolated regions.
In a late Tuesday press briefing, the agency confirmed 708 deaths since last week, a decrease from the 753 listed on their website earlier. No explanation for the inconsistency was provided.
Nearly 900 fatalities have been reported due to floods and landslides in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, following months of severe weather in Southeast Asia, including typhoons that hit the Philippines and Vietnam, leading to ongoing and widespread flooding.
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Environmental experts and local officials blame deforestation on Sumatra for the high death toll.
The Indonesian disaster agency stated that teams are focusing on delivering aid by land, sea, and air, clearing roads, and repairing damaged infrastructure.
“We hope to expedite the distribution of logistics,” said spokesperson Abdul Muhari.
