Indonesian East Timor Disaster death toll rises
Dozens of people were killed in Indonesia and neighboring East Timor after Cyclone Seroja struck the region over the weekend, authorities said Tuesday.
At least 120 people have been confirmed dead so far. Indonesia’s disaster agency reduced its death toll to 86 from the previous 130, citing a lack of communication with local agencies, as AFP reports. In East Timor, 34 others have been officially registered as dead.
Dozens still missing
Torrential rains triggered massive flooding and landslides on Sunday that devastated communities on a remote group of islands in eastern Indonesia, as well as the half-island nation of East Timor.
The death toll could rise further, with Indonesia’s disaster management agency reporting that more than 100 people are still missing.
Rescuers are having a difficult time searching for survivors in the worst affected areas due to power outages and roads blocked by debris.
More than 8,000 people in Indonesia have been displaced by extreme weather, and many have fled to emergency shelters.
While forecasters expect the cyclone to move away to southwest Indonesia later on Tuesday, officials fear further damage will occur.
“We could still see extreme weather conditions [from the cyclone] over the next few days, ”said Indonesian national disaster agency spokesperson Raditya Jati.
COVID-19 complicates relief efforts
Local authorities, already struggling to accommodate thousands of evacuees, are also concerned about slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
“These evacuees fled here with wet clothes on their backs and nothing else,” said Lembata Island Deputy Mayor Thomas Ola Longaday.
The European Union said it was ready to help poverty-stricken East Timor, officially known as Timor-Leste.
“The catastrophic floods come at a time when Timor-Leste is working hard to contain the spread of COVID-19 among its population, putting considerable additional pressure on both resources and the Timorese people,” the EU said. .
Disaster prone area
Indonesia and East Timor frequently suffer from natural disasters. Indonesia is the largest island nation in the world; its rugged terrain makes it difficult to reach people in need after storms and heavy swells.
Much of the region has also been affected by deforestation, removing an important natural barrier against flooding.
With its approximately 130 active volcanoes, Indonesia is also in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active area on earth.
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