Death toll in Indonesia floods passes 600, millions stranded - Newstrends
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Death toll in Indonesia floods passes 600, millions stranded

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Death toll in Indonesia floods passes 600, millions stranded 

The death toll from devastating floods in Indonesia has risen to 631, with rescue teams still struggling to reach isolated areas, according to the country’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency. The floods, caused by a rare cyclone over the Malacca Strait, have affected three provinces—Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra—impacting around 1.5 million people. Nearly 500 people remain missing, while thousands have sustained injuries.

About one million people have been evacuated, but many communities remain cut off, facing shortages of food, clean water, and basic supplies. Residents describe the floodwaters as “like a tsunami,” with roads impassable and bridges washed away. Aid workers have had to navigate affected areas on foot or by motorcycle, as heavy mud and debris block larger vehicles.

In Aceh and North Sumatra, residents like Arini Amalia and Maysanti spoke of dire conditions, with some going days without food and forced to walk long distances for internet access and essentials. Thousands queued outside government offices where Starlink devices had been provided to contact loved ones.

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The disaster has drawn criticism toward authorities over slow disaster response and bureaucratic delays in distributing food aid. Activists also cite environmental mismanagement, including deforestation for agriculture and mining, as exacerbating the flooding.

President Prabowo Subianto, visiting North Sumatra, acknowledged challenges but stressed that the government is doing everything possible. “We face this disaster with resilience and solidarity. Our nation is strong right now, able to overcome this,” he said.

The floods in Indonesia are part of a broader South and Southeast Asia flood crisis, which has claimed over 1,200 lives in the past week, including 390 in Sri Lanka and 176 in Thailand. Extreme rainfall in the region has been driven by the north-east monsoon, enhanced by Cyclonic Storms Senyar and Ditwah, and the remnants of ex-Typhoon Koto, bringing unusually heavy rainfall.

Experts warn that climate change may be intensifying the impact, producing heavier rainfall that worsens flooding, though it does not necessarily increase the frequency of tropical storms. The combination of rare cyclones and seasonal monsoon rains has created one of the worst flood crises in recent memory across the region.

Death toll in Indonesia floods passes 600, millions stranded

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Indonesia Landslide in West Java Kills Seven, Dozens Missing

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Indonesia Landslide in West Java Kills Seven, Dozens Missing

Indonesia Landslide in West Java Kills Seven, Dozens Missing

A deadly landslide in West Java, Indonesia has claimed the lives of at least seven people and left more than 80 others missing, authorities confirmed, as search and rescue teams battle treacherous conditions to reach potential survivors.

The disaster struck West Bandung early Saturday following days of heavy rainfall, causing steep slopes to collapse and bury several villages under mud and debris. Homes, roads, and critical infrastructure were severely damaged, with many residents forced to flee for safety.

Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has deployed hundreds of rescuers, including army personnel and volunteers, to comb through the affected areas. Officials warned that the ongoing torrential rains and unstable terrain heighten the risk of additional slides, making the operation dangerous.

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Authorities reported that dozens of houses were swallowed by the landslide, and while some residents escaped, many remain trapped under thick layers of mud. Meteorological experts had previously issued warnings of persistent heavy rainfall across West Java, a region prone to landslides and flash floods during the rainy season.

Local governments have ordered evacuations in vulnerable areas and continue to monitor the region’s slope stability. Officials emphasized the urgent need for residents to heed warnings and remain cautious as rescue efforts intensify.

The landslide adds to Indonesia’s ongoing challenges with natural disasters, especially during the rainy season, when floods and landslides frequently strike the archipelago, causing widespread damage and fatalities.

Indonesia Landslide in West Java Kills Seven, Dozens Missing

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Nigerian Nurse Loses Licence in Australia for Sleeping on Duty

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Nigerian-born nurse, Chimzuruoke Okembunachi
Nigerian-born nurse, Chimzuruoke Okembunachi

Nigerian Nurse Loses Licence in Australia for Sleeping on Duty

A Nigerian-born nurse, Chimzuruoke Okembunachi, has had her nursing licence cancelled in Australia after a tribunal found she repeatedly slept during night shifts at an aged care facility in Western Sydney, putting patients at serious risk.

The New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) ruled that between March 13 and March 27, 2024, Okembunachi, who was the sole registered nurse on duty during some nights, fell asleep multiple times, resulting in patients missing vital medications, including morphine. On one occasion, she allegedly turned off a light switched on by an assistant and returned to sleep, while on another, she instructed an assistant to give medication without proper authority.

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Okembunachi, who moved to Australia in 2018 and earned her Bachelor of Nursing Science in 2021, also cited migraines, academic pressures, and family stress as factors affecting her performance. Despite this, the tribunal concluded that her actions endangered the lives of elderly patients and ruled that deregistration was the only adequate sanction. She cannot apply for a review for nine months and has not practised nursing since her suspension.

Impact on Professional Standards

The case highlights the importance of patient safety and professional conduct in healthcare. Regulatory bodies like the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) maintain strict oversight, with other nurses also facing deregistration for unsafe practices or breaches of professional ethics.

Experts say the incident underscores the critical need for vigilance in aged care facilities and the consequences of failing to adhere to professional standards, particularly in countries facing workforce shortages in nursing and healthcare.

Nigerian Nurse Loses Licence in Australia for Sleeping on Duty

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US VP Vance Confirms Five‑Year‑Old Among Detainees in Immigration Crackdown

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US Vice President JD Vance

US VP Vance Confirms Five‑Year‑Old Among Detainees in Immigration Crackdown

Washington, United StatesUS Vice President JD Vance has confirmed that a five‑year‑old boy was among those detained during a sweeping federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, intensifying national debate over U.S. immigration policy and enforcement tactics. (NAMPA)

The child, identified as Liam Conejo Ramos, was taken into custody along with his father by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as federal agents carried out aggressive raids in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights. School officials say Liam was detained as he arrived home from preschool. (Reuters)

Vice President Vance, speaking during a visit to the area, acknowledged being alarmed at first by the reports involving the five‑year‑old but defended the enforcement, saying agents were responding to the father’s attempt to flee. He argued that federal officers “have to enforce the country’s laws,” and described the detention as part of broader efforts to arrest those in the country without legal status. (NAMPA)

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The operation has seen about 3,000 arrests in recent weeks, including several students from the local school district. School officials and community leaders have strongly criticised ICE’s conduct, accusing agents of using the child to “lure” other family members and of refusing offers by adults to care for him. (Reuters)

Liam and his father were reportedly transported to a family detention centre in Texas, a facility which was reopened under the Trump administration and has previously drawn criticism over conditions. Critics say the rapid transfer of detainees complicates legal access for families. (Houston Chronicle)

Political Backlash and National Response

The incident has sparked outrage from political leaders and immigrant‑rights advocates across the United States. Former Vice President Kamala Harris criticised the detention, calling Liam “just a baby” who should be with his family rather than in a detention facility, and urging public outrage over the treatment of children in immigration enforcement. (www.ndtv.com)

Local officials and educators in Minnesota have also condemned federal tactics, with some seeking a temporary court order to halt the ongoing ICE operations amid rising tensions and protests in Minneapolis and surrounding communities. (The Times of India)

The controversy comes amid broader immigration policy debates under the current administration, including expanded enforcement actions and criticism from civil rights groups over how and where ICE conducts raids and detentions.

US VP Vance Confirms Five‑Year‑Old Among Detainees in Immigration Crackdown

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