Indonesia Launches Massive Search for Thousands Missing After Catastrophic Floods

Fri Dec 05 2025 09:25:35 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A fierce tropical storm has led to severe flooding in Indonesia, leaving 400 people missing, while the death toll continues to rise. The government is dispatching aid, but some areas remain isolated amidst the devastation.

Indonesian rescuers are intensively searching for at least 400 people reported missing due to devastating floods triggered by torrential rains across the island of Sumatra. The catastrophic weather has resulted in over 440 confirmed deaths, and while some aid has been delivered, several villages remain without assistance, leading to looting and panic among residents. The region continues to grapple with the aftermath of Cyclone Senyar, which has also affected neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.

Rescuers in Indonesia are searching for at least 400 people who have been reported missing, many believed to be buried under landslides, after cyclonic rains caused disastrous flooding nearly a week ago.

The death toll on the island of Sumatra has risen to more than 440, the government says.

Aid has been sent into affected areas by air and by sea, but some villages have yet to receive anything, and there are reports of people stealing food and water to survive.

Torrential rain and storms have devastated parts of Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka, affecting millions of people and leaving more than 900 dead across the region this month.

An exceptionally rare tropical storm, named Cyclone Senyar, caused catastrophic landslides and flooding in Indonesia, with homes swept away and thousands of buildings submerged.

People are missing in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, the National Disaster Management Agency said.

There are two cities that require full attention due to being isolated, namely Central Tapanuli and Sibolga, agency head Suharyanto was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. Ships were expected in Sibolga on Monday, he added.

Some foreign aid has arrived, with Malaysia sending medical supplies to Aceh, one of the worst-hit provinces.

In Sungai Nyalo village, about 100km (62 miles) from West Sumatra's capital Padang, floodwaters had mostly receded on Sunday, leaving homes, vehicles, and crops coated in thick grey mud, AFP reports.

The authorities had not yet begun clearing roads, residents said, and no outside assistance had arrived.

Most villagers chose to stay; they didn't want to leave their houses behind, Idris, a local resident, told the news agency.

Police spokesperson Ferry Walintukan indicated that there have been reports of people breaking into shops on Sumatra, prompting police to restore order.

In another development, tech billionaire Elon Musk announced he would provide free Starlink services to support communications during the emergency.

There has been widespread devastation across the region. At least 170 people died in floods in Thailand, and there were several deaths reported in Malaysia, while Sri Lanka also faced extensive impact with over 330 lives lost.

As the torrential rains subside, many areas in the region are still struggling with floods and limited access to aid.