New storm barrelling towards Indonesia
A new cyclone was barrelling towards the country and threatened to spark more floods and landslides, authorities warned yesterday as the archipelago reeled from a storm that killed more than 200 people, including victims in neighbouring Timor Leste.
Tropical cyclone Odette was set to dump torrential rains on south Sumatra and other parts of the country, including central Java andBali.
While the new storm was not expected to be as destructive as cyclone Seroja, which pounded eastern Indonesia this week, the national weather agency said it had the potential to do serious damage.
“Everybody should remain alert for the potential of strong winds and heavy rains... as well as floods and landslides,” said weather agency head Dwikorita Karnawati.
Cyclone Seroja, one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in years, turned small communities into wastelands of mud and uprooted trees, sending thousands fleeing to shelters amid widespread blackouts.
The threat of a new storm came as President Joko Widodo arrived in hard-hit Lembata island yesterday.
“I would like to express deepest condolences to the victims,” the leader, better known as Jokowi, said from the disaster zone.
“I hope their souls will be accepted by God.”
His visit came as the death toll from the floods-and-landslide
disaster rose again. At least 165 people have been listed as dead
Another 42 were killed in Timor Leste — a nation of 1.3 million sandwiched between Indonesia and Australia.
More than 50 people are still missing in the two Southeast Asian nations, and disaster agency officials are still searching mountains of debris for bodies.
With thousands filling evacuation centres, authorities were scrambling to avoid a spread of Covid-19, and treat children affected
by the disaster.
“We are starting to provide counselling services for traumatised kids,” said Josef Nae Soi, vice governor of disaster epicentre East Nusa Tenggara province.
Indonesian cargo planes and navy ships packed with aid have arrived in the region with more than 4,000 military personnel sent to help in the relief effort.
A hospital ship was also en route to help treat survivors, where local medical clinics have been overwhelmed.