Johnny Johan Sompotan, Jakarta – Flash floods and landslides that battered the island of Sumatra over the past week have wiped out four villages in Aceh, Governor Muzakir Manaf said on Sunday.

In a video posted on social media, Muzakir broke down in tears as he spoke about the scale of the disaster in his province.

"Several villages have disappeared – Sawang, Jambuai, Bireun and Peusangan," the governor said.

Muzakir explained that the catastrophe struck suddenly at night, with the force of the water sweeping away the four villages in moments.

"Our duty now is to help those affected and the victims," he added, describing the disaster as the most severe since the December 2004 tsunami, which killed more than 200,000 people in Aceh and surrounding areas.

According to local authorities, flooding in Aceh has killed at least 80 people and injured more than 1,600. Officials warn the death toll could rise sharply as many affected areas remain inaccessible and unaccounted for.

The disaster has impacted around 441,000 residents, with more than 207,000 people displaced after their homes were destroyed or remain submerged.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/four-aceh-villages-wiped-out-by-sumatra-floods-governor-say