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The death toll from devastating floods and landslides across three Indonesian provinces on Sumatra Island has risen to 916, with 274 people still reported missing, authorities said.Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) confirmed that the casualties resulted from severe weather linked to recent cyclones that struck Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra provinces.Aceh recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 345 deaths and 174 people missing. North Sumatra reported 312 deaths and 133 missing, while West Sumatra accounted for 226 fatalities and 213 missing.Local officials have urged the central government in Jakarta to declare a national state of emergency to unlock additional funding and resources for rescue, recovery, and humanitarian relief operations.Environmental groups have attributed the worsening floods to large-scale deforestation caused by mining and logging activities, saying the loss of forest cover has degraded soil stability and heightened the risk of landslides and flash floods.In response, Indonesian authorities have launched investigations into several companies suspected of illegal deforestation in the affected areas. The Ministry of Environment said it has temporarily suspended the operations of the companies under investigation and ordered comprehensive environmental audits.The ministry added that aerial surveys revealed extensive land clearing in Batang Toru, which may have exacerbated the flooding.Monsoon rains battered large areas of Sumatra last week, causing rivers to overflow, triggering landslides, and submerging entire communities.  

An alliance of 30 influential Philippine business and civic organisations is demanding an independent investigation into what it describes as "excessive corruption" linked to government infrastructure projects.The call for action comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr disclosed last month the results of an internal audit into flood control projects, revealing troubling patterns of irregularity.Key findings showed that out of 545bn pesos ($9.63bn) in flood control spending since 2022, thousands of projects were either substandard, poorly documented, or non-existent.Some carried identical costs despite being in different locations, and only 15 out of more than 2,000 accredited contractors cornered 20% of the total budget.The allegations have spurred legislative inquiries in both chambers of Congress, and Marcos has said he will create an independent commission to investigate "these nefarious activities."The alliance expressed "outrage, disgust and disappointment" over the "shameful, unabated, continuing and excessive acts of graft and corruption" by many officials in Congress, the executive department and local government units."While we take note of the President admonishing the corrupt in government, we are concerned that the guilty among these officials will continue their merry way of robbing the people and filling their pockets," the groups said in a statement.They described the acts as a betrayal of public trust and a "treasonous" offence against Filipinos.There was no immediate comment from the offices of the president, the house speaker and senate president.The controversy has already led to the resignation of the public works secretary. His successor, Vince Dizon, has suspended all bidding for locally funded flood control projects, ordered courtesy resignations of all public works officials, and vowed to permanently blacklist contractors involved in fraudulent projects.The Philippine scandal unfolds as neighbouring Indonesia grapples with its own wave of public outrage. In recent weeks, mass protests have erupted across 32 provinces in Indonesia, many turning violent, with regional parliaments set ablaze.While Indonesia's streets have filled with demonstrators, the Philippine response has so far remained largely online, with citizens resorting to naming and shaming on social media. Some activist groups have begun mobilising on the ground, and others are calling on the public to take to the streets.