The death toll from devastating floods and landslides triggered by cyclonic rains on the Indonesian island of Sumatra has surged to 303, disaster officials announced on Saturday.

The extreme weather, which has plagued large parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand for over a week, was fueled by a rare tropical storm that formed in the Malacca Strait. The disaster has left a trail of destruction, particularly in Indonesia's westernmost region.

Suharyanto, the head of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency (BNPB), provided the grim update to journalists, noting that the situation remains critical. "At least 279 people are still missing," he stated, even as emergency services have evacuated approximately 80,000 people. He added that hundreds more are still stranded across three provinces on the island.

The northern part of Sumatra bore the brunt of the disaster, with vital road access severed and communication infrastructure destroyed by landslides, complicating rescue and relief efforts. Responders have been forced to use helicopters to deliver essential aid and logistics to the isolated areas.

"We are trying to open the route from North Tapanuli to Sibolga (in North Sumatra province), which is the most severely cut off for a third day," Suharyanto said. He explained that rescue forces are working to clear a road blockage caused by a landslide, where people are trapped on a stretch of road and in urgent need of supplies.

To bolster the ongoing efforts, the military presence will be enhanced on Sunday to assist with relief operations. The desperation on the ground was highlighted by Suharyanto's report of attempts by affected individuals in the badly-hit Central Tapanuli area to ransack aid supplies.

The impact of the severe weather system has been felt across the region. In Thailand, located just across the Malacca Strait, the government also reported a rising death toll. Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat said on Saturday that the number of fatalities from floods in the country's south has increased to 162, up from a previous toll of 145.

The concurrent disasters in Southeast Asia underscore the destructive power of the rare tropical storm and the widespread flooding it has caused, leaving hundreds dead and countless more displaced and in need of assistance. (ILKHA)