The monsoon rains that have hit the country over the past week have caused rivers to overflow, washing away entire villages and flooding thousands of homes in three provinces: North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh. A state of emergency has already been declared in Aceh until December 11.
Due to the destruction of roads, the affected areas have become isolated, and rescuers are delivering aid only by air. There is a shortage of heavy machinery for rescue operations in West Sumatra and Aceh. At the same time, in Sri Lanka, 153 people have died as a result of the cyclone, and 191 are reported missing, with over 500,000 affected by the disaster.
Over the past week, large areas of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand have been suffering from heavy rains caused by the cyclone. Moreover, a rare tropical storm has formed in the Strait of Malacca.
According to Sky News, the period of heavy seasonal rains in Indonesia lasts from October to March and often leads to flooding and landslides.
