Flood-hit Indonesian regions run low on fuel, funds for relief effort

Authorities battling floods on Indonesia's island of Sumatra that killed about 800 people this week have appealed for more central government help to tackle shortages of funds, food and fuel in relief efforts.

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Cyclone-induced floods and landslides have left 650 missing across the three provinces of West Sumatra, North Sumatra and Aceh, according to revised government figures, while local officials said severed power and road links were blocking access to aid.

In East Aceh, fuel was limited for days, with aid coming via boats and some people living in isolated districts were facing the looming threat of hunger, said its chief Iskandar Usman Al-Farlaky.

"Food stocks in three districts are dwindling and hunger is around the corner," he told Reuters, requesting a national emergency declaration from the central government. "The regional budget is limited."

National data shows that 35,000 people in East Aceh were affected by the disaster.

In Central Aceh, where 21 were killed and floods affected 54,000, supplies of fuel and rice were dwindling, said its chief, Haili Yoga, who is also among the four regional leaders urging the central government to declare a national emergency as public anger grows.

Across Indonesia, the floods have affected 3.1 million, with 592,600 evacuated.