East Nusa Tenggara Flash Flood Death Toll Rises to 84

Jakarta: The death toll from flash floods and landslides in several regions in East Nusa Tenggara Province has increases once again to 84, while at least 71 people are still missing, according to East Nusa Tenggara Deputy Governor Josef A Nae Soi.

"As of tonight, the death toll has reached 84," the Deputy Governor said during a teleconfere on Monday evening.



"Around 71 people are still missing," he added.

The Jakarta Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC) under the Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) detected the Tropical Depression (TD) 99S on Friday and issued an early warning on Saturday which states that TD 99S has a high potential to grow into a Tropical Cyclone in the next few days and has the potential to cause extreme weather impacts. 
 
On Monday, the Tropical Depression was reported to have strengthened and was named Tropical Cyclone 26S (SEROJA) which is located in the Sawu Sea, southwest of Timor Island, 96 km north-west of Rote Island, with Maximum Sustained Wind speed of 65 km/h.

Following flash floods and landslides that hit the Indonesian eastern provinces of East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara provinces, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has ordered his administration to tackle the disasters promptly and appropriately.

According to the President, the operation should be carried out quickly and well, including in terms of providing healthcare assistance, logistics needs, basic needs, as well as infrastructure repair.

(WAH)