Humanitarian Crisis Deepens: Indonesia Flood Victims Resort to Looting as Death Toll Reaches 442

Social media footage captured desperate residents pushing through damaged barricades to acquire essential supplies amid devastating floods.

Authorities reported Sunday that residents of flood-ravaged Sumatra, Indonesia have begun stealing food and water for survival, while officials in Sri Lanka confirmed flood and mudslide deaths have increased to 193.

The catastrophic Indonesian floods, which began nearly a week ago, have claimed 442 lives—with this number expected to increase as recovery efforts continue—and displaced over 290,700 people. The disaster has triggered landslides, severely damaged infrastructure, isolated portions of the island, and disrupted communication networks.

According to the National Disaster Management Agency, 402 individuals remain missing across Indonesia's North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces.

Difficult weather conditions coupled with equipment shortages have significantly hampered rescue operations. Aid delivery has been particularly slow to Sibolga city and the Central Tapanuli district in North Sumatra, which were among the hardest-hit areas.

Social media videos documented people rushing past collapsing barriers, navigating flooded roadways, and maneuvering around broken glass to obtain food, medicine, and fuel. Some individuals waded through waist-high floodwaters to reach damaged stores.

Police spokesperson Ferry Walintukan confirmed reports of shop break-ins Saturday evening, stating that regional police forces had been deployed to restore order.

"The looting occurred before logistical assistance arrived," Walintukan explained. "Residents were unaware that aid was coming and feared starvation."

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya announced Sunday that eleven helicopters had been dispatched from Jakarta to affected regions the day after the disaster to facilitate ongoing aid distribution, especially to areas inaccessible by land. However, he noted that "unpredictable weather often hampers aid operations."

The Cabinet Secretariat released footage showing military aircraft dropping supplies to affected areas. In North Tapanuli village, survivors desperately waved to approaching aid helicopters. Simultaneously, four naval vessels docked at a local port to support distribution efforts.

In Sri Lanka, authorities reported that the death toll from floods and mudslides has risen to 193, with 228 people still missing.

Nearly 148,000 Sri Lankans have been displaced and relocated to temporary shelters.

Sri Lanka has experienced severe weather since last week, with conditions worsening Thursday as heavy rainfall flooded homes, agricultural lands, and roads, triggering landslides primarily in the central tea-growing highlands.

Officials indicated that Cyclone Ditwah, which formed in waters east of Sri Lanka, is projected to move toward India's southern coast Sunday.