NEARLY 1,000 PEOPLE DEAD, ONE MILLION DISPLACED IN INDONESIA FLOODS

JAKARTA, Dec 8 (Bernama-dpa) -- Nearly 1,000 people have died, and nearly one million have been forced from their homes after weeks of flooding and landslides in northern Sumatra, according to figures released on Monday by Indonesia's disaster agency, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported 961 deaths, 234 people missing and about 5,000 injured across the Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra provinces on the island as of Thursday.

The agency also recorded damage to more than 156,000 homes. A total of 52 districts and cities remain heavily affected. 

Suharyanto, the head of BNPB, told President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday evening that 975,075 people had taken refuge in temporary shelters across the three regions. 

Aceh has been hardest hit, with more than 900,000 people displaced, BNPB stated.

Floodwaters have begun to recede in a number of coastal districts, although large areas in the central highlands are still cut off, BNPB said.

President Prabowo visited flood-hit areas in Aceh on Sunday. He later chaired an emergency meeting attended by Cabinet ministers, military commanders and provincial officials.

Indonesia's rainy season, which usually peaks between November and April, frequently brings severe flooding.

Environmental groups and disaster specialists have warned for years that rapid deforestation, unregulated development and degraded river basins have increased the risks facing communities on Sumatra.

Further heavy rain is forecast for parts of the island in the coming days, raising concern for families who have been displaced. 

--BERNAMA-dpa