Sumatra cyclone floods leave families searching for missing relatives

Sumatra cyclone floods leave families searching for missing relatives

Sumatra cyclone floods intensify humanitarian crisis as death toll rises and residents dig mass graves. The Sumatra cyclone floods have created one of the most severe humanitarian emergencies Indonesia has faced in recent years, forcing families in several districts to gather at health centres, community halls, and temporary shelters while waiting for any information about loved ones who have not returned home. The disaster, triggered by cyclonic rains that pounded the western region of the country throughout the week, has submerged towns, washed away homes, and cut off vital road systems. In the town of Batang Toru, the emotional toll became painfully visible on Friday as families arrived one by one at a local health centre, hoping to find answers amid chaos. The fear that their missing relatives may be among the deceased has intensified as the scale of the Sumatra cyclone floods becomes more apparent. Residents and volunteers in Batang Toru have begun preparing a mass grave for seven …