Severe rains and a powerful tropical storm have unleashed catastrophic flooding and landslides across Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, killing at least 174 people and leaving dozens missing, officials confirmed on Friday.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that 116 deaths occurred in North Sumatra, 35 in Aceh, and 23 in West Sumatra, where rescue teams continue to search for survivors. At least 79 people remain unaccounted for, while thousands of families have been displaced amid massive destruction to homes, farmland, and critical infrastructure.

BNPB Chief Suharyanto said rescuers recovered 23 additional bodies in West Sumatra, bringing the nationwide death toll to its current figure. Although floodwaters have begun to recede in some districts, many regions remain inaccessible due to submerged roads and landslide debris.

In Padang Pariaman, water levels surged above one metre, complicating rescue and evacuation efforts. In Batang Toru in North Sumatra, seven unidentified victims were laid to rest in a mass grave after being retrieved from devastated villages.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency warned that more heavy rainfall is expected in the coming days, heightening fears of additional landslides and flash floods. Emergency services are working to restore power, clear blocked roads, and distribute aid, with relief supplies and rescue personnel airlifted into isolated zones.

The extreme weather has also impacted neighbouring countries. Thailand has reported at least 145 deaths across its southern provinces, while Malaysia and Sri Lanka have recorded fatalities and widespread evacuations linked to the same storm system.

Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant, follow evacuation orders, and avoid returning to unstable ground until conditions improve. The disaster underscores the region’s increasing susceptibility to climate-driven hazards, which experts warn are becoming more frequent and more severe. (ILKHA)