By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA (Worthy News) – Malaysia and Indonesia faced more suffering Friday, with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim barring his cabinet members from going on leave after the displacement of over 90,000 people in a growing flood disaster that authorities fear could be the country’s worst in a decade.
Across its maritime border in flood-stricken Indonesia, rescuers recovered two more bodies from a tourist bus hit by a landslide triggered by torrential rains on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, bringing the death toll to nine, officials said.
At least 20 people have died in other landslides and floods in the region this week.
Rescuers found the bodies from the bus, which was covered by trees, mud, and rocks from the landslide on the road from Medan city to Berastagi in North Sumatra province, officials said.
The road is the main route from the regional capital, Medan, to other districts in the area.
The bus was among vehicles cut off by previous landslides along the road since Wednesday morning.
More than 10 people were also injured and were taken to a hospital in Medan city, where Christians had urged for prayers.
‘CONTINUE DUTIES’
Back in Malaysia, “All ministers have been asked to continue their duties and go down to the ground now,” Anwar told reporters.
Three people have died, and 94,778 people have been evacuated to 527 temporary shelters in nine states, with Kelantan and neighboring Terengganu the worst hit, according to the National Disaster Command Centre.
It did not have more details on the deaths.
Floods have been hampering the east coast of peninsular Malaysia during the monsoon period between October and March. Still, officials said this week’s torrential rain led to mass evacuations, mainly in the northeastern state of Kelantan, which borders Thailand.
Indonesia, too, was hard-hit with Fithriyani Tarigan, a Christian, telling Worthy News:
“At least nine people died in my village of Semangat Gunung, which is a one-hour drive from the city of Medan.”
She said it was crucial to “Please pray for my country.”
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
Tsunami warnings were issued in Japan after a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan on Monday afternoon, authorities said.
The United States military has intercepted and seized an Iranian-flagged container ship that attempted to bypass an American blockade near the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such incident since restrictions on Iranian ports began last week.
About one in three evangelical Christians in Britain say they have experienced hostility because of their beliefs, according to a new report by the Evangelical Alliance United Kingdom.
Rumen Radev claimed victory after exit polls showed his Progressive Bulgaria movement won Sunday’s parliamentary election in the Balkan nation, its eighth general vote in five years.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Sunday that the bureau has gathered evidence supporting claims by President Donald Trump that the 2020 election was stolen, though he declined to release details, citing an ongoing investigation.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Saturday that it has established a “Yellow Line” security perimeter across southern Lebanon, creating a controlled buffer zone during the current 10-day ceasefire. The move is aimed at maintaining operational security while preventing renewed hostilities along Israel’s northern border.
The United States is preparing to significantly expand its maritime pressure campaign against Iran, with plans underway to board and seize Iran-linked oil tankers and commercial vessels in international waters, U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal.