Desperate hunt for food and water as Indonesia floods death toll rises to 502

Silvano Hadjid
BBC Indonesian, reporting from West Sumatra

image Source, minanglip volunteer

In the flood-hit town of Bukittinggi in Sumatra, volunteers are helping to distribute aid to residents of districts affected by floods and landslides.

Generators and fuel have been given priority so that residents can get electricity. Volunteers are also distributing clothes and food.

With roads cut off and no vehicle access, volunteers are delivering aid on foot and motorcycles.

image Source, novi fani rovica

Meanwhile, in the town of Padang in West Sumatra, resident Novi Fani Rofika told me that floods and landslides have left the town’s beach piled with logs.

“There are thousands of them washed up everywhere. They’re logs, proper logs. From tiny pieces to pieces as wide as an adult’s waist,” he said, adding that it was unclear where they might have come from.

Novi, who lives near the coast, said fishermen still cannot go into the sea because the water is heavily polluted.

“The color is already like river water, yellow and muddy.”