ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Tuesday expressed sadness for the deaths of “precious lives” in Indonesia in unprecedented floods and landslides triggered by a tropical cyclone.
“We are deeply saddened at the loss of precious lives, missing persons and destruction caused in #Indonesia due to floods and landslides,” the FO said in a tweet.
We are deeply saddened at the loss of precious lives, missing persons and destruction caused in #Indonesia due to floods and landslides. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and brotherly people of Indonesia. @Kemlu_RI@PakinIndonesia
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) April 6, 2021
At least 128 deaths were reported on several islands in Indonesia’s West and East Nusa Tenggara provinces, while 72 others were missing, after tropical cyclone Seroja brought flash floods, landslides, and strong winds amid heavy rain over the weekend, disaster agency BNPB said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and brotherly people of Indonesia,” the FO added.
Indonesian authorities said the death toll could rise as rescuers reach more isolated areas. Images from the region showed downed trees, choppy seas, and wooden homes flattened by the storm and debris floating in muddy floodwater.
At least 8,424 people were displaced, nearly 2,000 buildings including a hospital impacted, and more than 100 homes heavily damaged by the cyclone, which had moved over the Indian Ocean by Tuesday morning, headed towards northern Australia.
In East Timor, which shares the Timor island with Indonesia, at least 27 people were killed by landslides, flash floods and a falling tree, while 7,000 were displaced, its government said.
BNPB head Dwikorita Karnawati said once-rare tropical cyclones were happening more often in Indonesia and climate change could be to blame.
“Seroja is the first time we’re seeing tremendous impact because it hit the land. It’s not common,” she told a press conference.
