Mining, plantations, and fires have caused the clearance of large tracts of lush Indonesian rainforest over recent decades. More than 240,000 hectares of primary forest were lost in 2024.
In response to the Quang Trung Campaign, launched last year by the Prime Minister to rebuild and repair homes for households affected by natural disasters, more than 30 officers and soldiers in the central province of Quang Ngai, undeterred by sun or rain, worked tirelessly to complete the final stages of construction, ensuring residents would have safe and stable homes.
The Indonesian government through the Forest and Mining Area Control Task Force (Satgas PKH) has found indications of a number of corporate and individual entities that contribute to the occurrence of floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
As disaster-related losses continue to rise, authorities in the affected provinces have decided to extend the state of emergency to ensure resources and legal mechanisms for response efforts. West Sumatra extended it to December 22, North Sumatra to December 24, and Aceh to December 25.
The floods and landslides that struck three provinces on Indonesia's Sumatra Island have caused damage to about 1,200 public facilities, as well as 219 health facilities, 581 educational establishments, 434 places for worship, 290 office buildings and 145 bridges.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has approved a relief package worth 60 million IDR (about 3,600 USD) for each damaged home. Coordinated efforts are underway to provide financial aid, rebuild infrastructure, and restore livelihoods, particularly for 25,000 ha of farmland in West Sumatra.
Specific time windows have been set for all vehicles excluding lorries to use Prenn Pass: on December 5 from 9am to 10pm and on December 6 and December 7 from 5am to 10pm.
The death toll has surpassed 1,140, with many still missing, reported the Thai English-language daily online newspaper The Nation.
On the same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung also cabled a message of condolences to his Indonesian counterpart Sugiono./.
Severe floods and landslides have battered Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia in recent days, causing widespread destruction, mass evacuations and a rising death toll across the region.
Provincial authorities ordered immediate emergency actions to protect residents and restore traffic. These include installing warning signs, blocking all unauthorised entry to danger zones, relocating households near the landslide area, and maintaining round-the-clock monitoring of cracks, movements and further erosion.
Heavy rains and rising waters have caused severe flooding and landslides across Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Da Nang, submerging thousands of households, cutting off communities, and prompting overnight emergency evacuations and military-led rescue efforts.
Torrential rain has triggered deadly landslides, widespread flooding and major transport disruption across the central region, leaving at least 14 people dead or missing and forcing thousands to evacuate.
Heavy rain from November 17 to 20 is forecast across central Vietnam, raising river levels and posing risks of flooding, flash floods, and landslides in provinces from Ha Tinh to Khanh Hoa, especially Quang Ngai, Dak Lak, and Lam Dong.
Between the night of November 17 and 19, the North will also experience rain. The combination of rain and strong cold air will cause a sharp drop in temperatures across the northern region and the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
The central city of Hue has so far received over 329 billion VND (over 12.5 million USD) from the central budget, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF)'s agencies, and other localities to support flood recovery efforts.
As of 6:00 on November 4, Quang Tri province had recorded 18 flooded locations, with water levels ranging from 0.2 to 1 metre.
As of the evening of October 30, floods had left 22 people dead or missing, submerged more than 120,000 houses, severely damaged infrastructure, and disrupted daily and economic activities across multiple localities.
The floods in central Vietnam have claimed 16 lives or left people missing: nine dead (Hue 1, Da Nang 7, Lam Dong 1), seven missing (Quang Tri 2, Hue 1, Da Nang 4), and 15 injured in Da Nang.
Party General Secretary To Lam on October 29 sent a letter of sympathy and encouragement to the people, officials, and soldiers across the country who are currently responding to and recovering from the consequences of natural disasters.