Indonesia floods, landslides kill 1,030

• Indonesia’s disaster agency says the death toll from floods and landslides in Sumatra has risen to 1,030, with 206 people still missing.
• President Prabowo Subianto says recovery could take up to 3 months as access improves in most areas. 

The death toll from severe floods and landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island has climbed to 1,030, while 206 people remain missing, according to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the agency said the casualties followed weeks of heavy rainfall that triggered widespread flooding and landslides across several provinces on the island, overwhelming communities and infrastructure.

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The disaster struck Sumatra on November 26, but search and rescue teams have continued to recover bodies from remote and hard-to-reach areas, contributing to the sharp rise in the death toll.

- Search efforts continue amid difficult terrain -

The disaster agency said rescue operations are ongoing, with teams working in mountainous terrain and areas buried under mud and debris.

Officials said access remains challenging in some locations due to destroyed roads and unstable ground, though conditions have gradually improved in recent days.

Hundreds of rescue workers, soldiers, and volunteers remain deployed across affected areas, using heavy equipment and manual searches to locate those still missing.

- President outlines recovery timeline -

Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said recovery efforts in flood and landslide hit regions would take time.

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“The recovery process will not be quick”, Prabowo said, adding that the government aims to restore normal life within 2 to 3 months.

He said most major roads have been reopened, allowing aid deliveries to resume, while only a small number of areas remain isolated.

- Toll rises sharply from earlier figures -

The updated death toll marks a significant increase from figures released in early December, which reported at least 604 deaths from the disaster.

Authorities said continued rainfall, combined with delayed access to remote communities, led to the discovery of additional victims weeks after the initial floods and landslides.

- Humanitarian needs remain high -

Thousands of residents remain displaced, sheltering in temporary camps or with relatives. Aid agencies are providing food, clean water, medical assistance, and basic supplies, while warning of heightened risks of disease outbreaks.

Officials have urged residents in landslide-prone areas to remain vigilant, warning that further rainfall could trigger additional collapses as the ground remains saturated.

The government said long-term recovery will include rebuilding homes, repairing infrastructure, and strengthening early warning systems to reduce the impact of future disasters.