Indonesia Reels as Cyclone-Fueled Floods Kill 908, Hundreds Still Missing

In Indonesia, the death toll from cyclone-driven floods and landslides across three Indonesian provinces on Sumatra climbed to the 908 mark today, with over 400 people still missing, government data showed. The disaster has also claimed around 200 lives in southern Thailand and Malaysia. Green groups blame deforestation linked to mining and logging for amplifying damage from the floods, and Indonesia is investigating companies suspected of clearing forests around flood-hit areas. Indonesia’s environment ministry has suspended operations at mining and hydropower firms blamed for worsening the floods through deforestation. Meanwhile, local government officials on Sumatra have called on the national government in Jakarta to declare a national emergency to free up additional funds for rescue and relief efforts. Earlier this week, President Prabowo Subianto said the situation was improving and current arrangements were sufficient.