Jakarta. The death toll from cyclonic rains-induced floods and landslides in the island of Sumatra has climbed to at least 753, according to the latest available data by Indonesian disaster authorities as of Wednesday morning.

Rescuers are still searching for the 650 people who had gone missing in the island’s one of, if not the most, fatal disasters. About 2,600 individuals were wounded, with the victims spread across Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra. The tragedy has forced 576,300 people to flee their homes. As many as 3,600 houses sustained severe damage.

President Prabowo Subianto has been facing mounting pressure to declare the Sumatra floods a national emergency, a move that is expected to expedite aid distribution and disaster management coordination.

During a visit to the disaster-hit areas on Monday, Prabowo admitted that he had no plans of raising the emergency status level, citing that the “situation has improved”. The retired army general plans to monitor the developments.

Ahmad Muzani, the speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly, told reporters on Tuesday that the ball was also now in Prabowo’s court.

“I’m sure Mr. President has his own considerations. He has the one who has the authority [whether to declare a national emergency status]. Because he has to sign a presidential decree for it to happen,” Muzani told reporters, shortly after meeting Prabowo at the Merdeka Palace. 

The Gerindra politician also said that the government had gotten things under control “as quickly as possible” in response to the catastrophe.

Think-tank Celios estimated that Indonesia’s economy could shrink Rp 68.67 trillion ($4.1 billion) in the aftermath of the Sumatra disaster, citing that its economic impact also extends to other parts of the country. The economic impact in other provinces comes from the weakening flow of consumer goods and industrial raw materials. For instance, Jakarta loses at least Rp 1.88 trillion despite its geographical distance from Sumatra.

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