JAKARTA: The death toll from floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains on Tuesday on Indonesia’s Sumatra island has risen to 164, while search efforts continue for 79 missing people.

Indonesian authorities said in a statement today that rescue workers are facing difficulties due to damage to bridges and roads and a shortage of heavy equipment.

The Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said it revised the death toll to 164 after initially reporting 174 fatalities, attributing the discrepancy to an error in counting deaths in Aceh province, where the number was initially reported as 25, down from 35.

The head of the agency, Suhariyanto, reported at a press conference that the death toll in North Sumatra province had reached 116, and rescuers had recovered 23 bodies in the west of the island.

He noted that rescue teams were facing difficulties reaching affected areas in 12 cities and districts in North Sumatra, especially since the floods had inundated more than 17,000 homes, forcing approximately 23,000 residents to flee to temporary shelters.

Monsoon rains, exacerbated by Tropical Cyclone Siniyart, which formed in the Strait of Malacca, caused rivers in North Sumatra to overflow on Tuesday.

The floods swept through numerous mountain villages, displacing residents and inundating more than 3,200 homes and buildings, leading to the displacement of about 3,000 families who sought refuge in government shelters.

The floods also destroyed rice fields, livestock, and public facilities. Floods and landslides isolated residents after bridges and roads were cut off, isolating entire areas from the outside world.

-QNA