In Indonesia, deforestation is intensifying disasters from severe weather and climate change
By VICTORIA MILKO, Associated Press
Published: April 2, 2024, 6:00am
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Homes damaged by a flash flood sit in Pesisir Selatan, West Sumatra, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. In Indonesia, environmental groups continue to point to deforestation and environmental degradation worsening the effects of natural disasters such as floods, landslides, drought and forest fires. (AP Photo/Sutan Malik Kayo)Photo Gallery
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Roads turned to 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.
Government officials blamed the floods on heavy rainfall, but environmental groups have cited the disaster as the latest example of deforestation and environmental degradation intensifying the effects of severe weather across Indonesia.
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