Over 200 Casualties in Indonesia and East Timor Due to Cyclone Impact

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The death toll from Cyclone Seroja, which occurred in the sea between Indonesia and Australia, has exceeded 200.

According to CNN and other broadcasts on the 6th, Indonesian disaster authorities reported that at least 128 people have died and 72 are missing as of the afternoon due to floods and landslides. The East Timor authorities announced that 27 people have died due to this cyclone.

As a result of Cyclone Seroja, heavy rain began on the night of the 3rd, causing floods and landslides in various places in the East Nusa Tenggara region of the Indonesian Sunda Islands and East Timor by the early morning of the 4th. This disaster has caused a large number of displaced people in Indonesia and East Timor alone. Not only human casualties but also property damage is significant, but it is currently difficult to tally the full extent.

Since the landslides occurred during the early morning hours, residents who were sleeping at home reportedly had no time to evacuate. As a result, many people were trapped under building debris, and hundreds of police officers, soldiers, and residents urgently began removing debris with their bare hands, shovels, and hoes, according to foreign media. In most landslide-affected areas, electricity, water supply, internet, and roads have been cut off, delaying access for heavy equipment.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo held a cabinet meeting that day and ordered to speed up evacuation, relief activities, and power restoration. He mentioned that poor weather conditions are causing difficulties in delivering relief supplies and urged, "If it is difficult to reach the site by road, quickly open sea or air routes."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.