Adventists among Those Affected by Massive Flooding in Indonesia and Timor-Leste

While infections of the coronavirus are still spiking in many parts of the world, Indonesia and East Timor have one more calamity to worry about: too much water. Torrential rains started pouring on the eastern side of the Indonesian archipelago and the country of Timor-Leste on Sunday, April 4, 2021, causing massive flooding and widespread destruction to lives and property.

Weather forecasts reported the risk of heavy rains in eastern Indonesia and Timor-Leste due to a low-pressure area on the western part of the island of Timor. Torrential rains began Friday, April 2, and gained strength until Sunday morning, turning major streets into rushing rivers.

According to local government officials, nonstop heavy rains resulted in flash floods and landslides, killing more than 50 people. News agencies reported overflowing dams and rushing waters submerging households, making rescue operations difficult. Rescuers fear more casualties as retrieval operations are ongoing.

Heavy rains and flash floods also destroyed commercial establishments and infrastructure, including roads that connect the capital city of Dili to districts affected by the calamity.

Seventh-day Adventists in Dili are not exempt from damage. In a social media post, Inaciu Da Kosta, executive secretary of the Timor-Leste Mission, posted a video of his house in a knee-deep flood while heavy rain is continuously pouring. In a text message, Raymond House, president of the Timor-Leste Mission, reported heavy damage to households in Dili.

“Families in Dili are greatly affected by this calamity. The floods submerged their belongings,” House wrote, adding, “Electricity service is down. Many homes are badly damaged; some were completely washed down by the rushing waters. Streets are covered in mud; some bridges are broken and are not passable.”

House wrote that the mission house was able to accommodate five families whose homes were severely damaged and that they were currently assessing the situation.

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Timor-Leste will conduct a rapid needs assessment. ADRA will be a part of the coordinated assessment team organized by the National Directorate of Civil Protection of Timor-Leste, which begins April 6. Initial reports from local government units mentioned bedding and cooking equipment as the first needs of families in evacuation centers.

While the number of evacuees grows daily, government units reminded people to observe minimum health protocol inside evacuation centers (social distancing and wearing masks) to avoid a spike in COVID-19 infections in the country.

“ADRA Timor-Leste is coordinating with local authorities and the Timor-Leste Mission in extending assistance to families and individuals affected by the calamity,” Virginia Pycroft, ADRA Timor-Leste country director, said. “Clean water is one of the major necessities here. We need funds to purchase additional water tank stations that local authorities can fill up.”

ADRA said that the agency will also provide food, water, bedding, and cooking stoves to evacuees in the worst affected area of Tasi Tolu.

Adventist Church leaders in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) called members to intercede for those living in the affected areas. “Please pray for all those affected in Timor-Leste and east Indonesia,” they said.

The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.