The death toll from recent floods and landslides across three provinces on Indonesia's Sumatra Island has risen to 712, with 507 people still missing, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said on Tuesday.

The agency reported that disasters have displaced about 1.1 million people in North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh provinces.

Rescue teams have faced difficulties reaching several villages on Sumatra Island, as floods swept away roads and destroyed bridges. Although helicopters and boats have been deployed, local authorities said deteriorating weather conditions and damaged infrastructure continue to hamper response efforts.

At the same time, efforts to restore telecommunications services are also being accelerated. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs reported that more than 90 percent of transmission towers in areas affected by floods and landslides in West Sumatra and North Sumatra have resumed operations.

The ministry is also accelerating efforts to restore telecommunications networks, ensuring residents can reconnect and access essential information.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said on Monday that the government's rescue and relief efforts are being carried out with full force.

He stressed that Indonesia must respond effectively to climate change, adding that local governments should play a greater role in environmental protection and in preparing for future extreme weather events.

UN chief saddened by loss of life

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life caused by severe flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, his spokesperson said Tuesday.

Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement that the UN chief conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and expressed his solidarity with all those affected.

The UN is in close contact with authorities in all four countries and stands ready to support relief and response efforts, and UN Country Teams remain at the disposal of governments to provide necessary assistance, he added.

WMO warns of deadly floods

Devastating monsoon rains and tropical cyclones have unleashed catastrophic flooding across parts of South and Southeast Asia, killing hundreds of people, displacing communities and causing major economic disruption, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said Tuesday.

Clare Nullis, a WMO official, told a UN press briefing in Geneva that Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka are among the worst hit, as monsoon-related downpours combine with tropical typhoons.

Floods remain among the region's top hazards, and rising temperatures are increasing the likelihood of more intense rainfall, she warned.

The Asia-Pacific region is facing the world's record typhoon activity, and no single institution or country can deal with tropical cyclones or climate change alone, she said. The disaster highlighted the need to further strengthen regional forecasting systems, expand coping capacities and increase data sharing.

(With input from Xinhua)