Jakarta. The catastrophic Sumatra floods and landslides have killed at least 950 people, according to data by the national disaster authorities BNPB as of Monday at 11.40 a.m. 

Rescuers are still trying to find the 274 people whose whereabouts remain unknown.  About 156,500 homes were destroyed. The disaster has injured 5,000 people. The casualties are spread across three provinces in Sumatra island, namely Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Aceh recorded the highest death toll at 386.  

Indonesia has turned down offers to accept foreign aid as Southeast Asia’s biggest economy wishes to recover from the devastating disaster on its own. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) promised to be the first donor if Indonesia decides to accept international aid, its ambassador Abdulla Salem AlDhaheri recently said. Indonesia has also not declared the disaster a national emergency, despite mounting calls to do so, as the status is expected to speed up the emergency responses.

President Prabowo Subianto has urged local government heads in the disaster-hit areas not to shirk their responsibilities, taking an indirect jab at South Aceh Regent Mirwan MS. The regent had left the crisis-struck region to perform the umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

"Thank you, regents. The people have chosen you to face these challenges. If you want to run away, then go ahead. I’ll order Home Affairs Minister [Tito Karnavian] to remove people like this,” Prabowo said in an emergency response meeting over the weekend.

Read More: Prabowo: Rebuild Roads and Bridges First to Deliver Relief

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