Indonesia: Earthquake-tsunami in Sumatra wreaked havoc, death toll reached 248, fear of increase | World

The 7.2-magnitude earthquake triggered high waves in coastal villages. Many houses, schools, hospitals and roads were completely destroyed. Power and telecommunication outages have cut off connectivity to affected areas, posing significant challenges to rescue operations. Heavy rains, muddy roads and several landslides have prevented rescue teams from reaching the affected villages. Many bridges have collapsed, blocking major roads. Some remote villages are still inaccessible, and the situation there could worsen, local officials said.

The Indonesian military, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), and non-governmental organizations are working day and night to carry out relief operations. Helicopters and relief planes are delivering food, drinking water, medicine and tarpaulins to affected districts in North Sumatra. The military airport in Medan city has been designated as the main center for relief operations. President Joko Widodo has declared the disaster a national tragedy and appealed for international aid. India, Australia, Singapore and the United States have pledged immediate assistance. A UN team has also left for the assessment. Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire”, where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common. In recent years, the country has previously suffered catastrophic events such as the 2004 tsunami, the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake-tsunami and the 2022 Cianjur earthquake.