Residents on the Indonesian island of Sumatra have been forced to loot shops for essential supplies, authorities confirmed on Sunday, as deadly floods continue to cripple the region. The disaster, which struck nearly a week ago, has claimed at least 303 lives, a number expected to rise as recovery efforts persist.
A Region Cut Off and Desperate
The catastrophic floods triggered landslides, severely damaging roads and communication lines, effectively cutting off parts of the island. This has left thousands displaced and struggling to survive. Aid delivery to the worst-affected areas, including the city of Sibolga and Central Tapanuli district in North Sumatra, has been critically slow.
Police spokesperson Ferry Walintukan stated that regional police were deployed after looting incidents were first reported on Saturday evening. "The looting happened before logistical aid arrived," Walintukan explained. "(Residents) didn't know that aid would come and were worried they would starve."
The Struggle for Survival and Aid
Videos circulating on social media paint a stark picture of the desperation, showing individuals scrambling past flooded roads and broken glass to secure food, medicine, and gas. Some were seen wading through waist-deep, contaminated water to access damaged convenience stores.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya confirmed on Sunday that eleven helicopters were deployed from Jakarta to assist with logistics distribution, particularly to areas where land access was completely severed. The military has been air-dropping supplies, with footage released by the Cabinet Secretariat showing survivors in the dusty village of North Tapanuli frantically waving to incoming helicopters.
However, unpredictable weather conditions and a lack of heavy equipment are severely hampering both rescue and aid operations. In a parallel effort, four navy ships have docked at a local port to support the distribution of vital resources.
A Familiar Pattern of Disaster
This tragedy underscores Indonesia's acute vulnerability to natural disasters. The nation of more than 280 million people sits on the seismically active "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. This location makes it prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. Furthermore, seasonal rains frequently lead to devastating flooding and landslides, creating a recurring cycle of crisis for its inhabitants.
