SOME residents of the flood-hit Indonesian island of Sumatra have been forced to steal food and water to survive, authorities said today.

The floods, which hit Indonesia nearly a week ago, have killed 303 people, with the number expected to rise as more bodies are recovered, and displaced thousands. 

The deluges triggered landslides, damaged roads, cut off parts of the island and brought down communication cables.

The challenging weather conditions and a lack of heavy equipment also hampered rescue efforts. Aid has been slow to reach the hardest-hit city of Sibolga and Central Tapanuli district in North Sumatra.

Videos on social media showed people scrambling past crumbling barricades, flooded roads and broken glass to get their hands on food, medicine and fuel. Some even waded through waist-deep floodwaters to reach damaged grocery shops.

North Sumatra police first reported incidents on Saturday evening, said police spokesman Ferry Walintukan, adding that regional police had been deployed to restore order.

He said: “The looting happened before logistical aid arrived.

“[Residents] didn’t know that aid would come and were worried they would starve.”

Nearly 148,000 people have been displaced from their homes and are being housed in temporary shelters.

In Sri Lanka, officials said that deaths from floods and mudslides there had risen to 193.