More than 150 people have now died in the catastrophic floods and landslides in south eastern Indonesia and East Timor that began on 03 April 2021.
500mm of Rain in 48 Hours
Torrential rain, brought by Tropical Cyclone Seroja, fell in parts of south eastern Indonesia. Parts of East Nusa Tenggara Province saw more than 500mm in 2 days.
East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
As further damage assessments are completed and search operations continue, Indonesia’s disaster agency BNPB confirmed on 06 April 2021 that 128 people have now died and 72 people are still missing in East Nusa Tenggara.
Fatalities were reported in Lembata Regency (67 people), East Flores Regency (49), and Alor Regency (12). Affected areas of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province include Kupang City, East Flores Regency, Malacca, Lembata, Ngada, West Sumba, East Sumba, Rote Ndao and Alor.
Around 2,000 homes have been damaged, including 119 severely. As of 06 April, 8,424 people had been displaced, with many of the (7,212) in East Sumba Regency. Other displacements were reported in Lembata (958), Rote Ndao Regency (672), West Sumba (284) and East Flores (256).
Search and relief operations are ongoing in East Nusa Tenggara and BNPB has deployed six helicopters for emergency handling of flash floods and landslides.
East Timor
Meanwhile media report that 34 people have now died in the neighbouring country of East Timor: 13 in Dili, 12 in Manatuto, 7in Ainaro, 1in Baucau and 1 in Aileu.
Tropical Cyclone Seroja
On 07 April the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Indonesia predicted Tropical Cyclone Seroja was likely to move away from Indonesia, but increase in intensity over the next 24 hours. BMKG said moderate to heavy rain and waves of up to 4 metres were possible.
