Frustration mounts as survivors await aid in Indonesia

Officials in Indonesia and Sri Lanka battled Wednesday to reach survivors of deadly flooding in remote, cutoff regions as the toll in the disaster that hit four countries topped 1,450.

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In Indonesia, survivors expressed growing frustration about the slow pace of the rescue effort and aid delivery, as humanitarian groups warned the scale of the challenge was almost unprecedented even for a country that has faced no shortage of natural disasters.

Monsoon rains paired with two tropical storm systems dumped record deluges across Sri Lanka, and parts of Indonesia’s Sumatra, southern Thailand and northern Malaysia last week.

In Indonesia, the toll jumped to 804 on Wednesday, but the number of missing also increased over 650.

The rising figures reflect information that is only trickling in as many regions remain physically cut off by flood damage, isolated by electricity and communications failures, or both.

"It’s very challenging logistically to respond," said Ade Soekadis, executive director of aid group Mercy Corps Indonesia.

"The extent of the damage and the size of the affected area is really huge.”