Deforestation in Indonesia Intensifies Severe Weather, Climate Change Disasters

Homes damaged by a flash flood sit in Pesisir Selatan, West Sumatra, Indonesia, March 13, 2024. In Indonesia, environmental groups point to deforestation and environmental degradation worsening the effects of natural disasters such as floods, landslides, drought and forest fires.

Roads turned into murky brown rivers, homes were swept away by strong currents and bodies were pulled from mud during deadly flash floods and landslides after torrential rains hit West Sumatra in early March, marking one of the latest deadly natural disasters in Indonesia.