In the aftermath of cyclone-triggered floods and landslides that ravaged Sumatra island in Indonesia, Abdul Ghani, a 57-year-old soft drink vendor, has been relentlessly searching for his missing wife, Marsoni, whom he has been married to for 25 years.
Ghani, who lost their only child seven years ago, has been traversing the muddy streets of Palembayan, desperately seeking any trace of his beloved wife. Despite his fading hopes of finding her alive, he clings to the possibility of at least recovering her remains.
The tragedy struck when Ghani was away working, and upon returning, he discovered that his home and several others had been swept away by the raging waters. Since then, he has been carrying a large photograph of his wife, displaying it to anyone who might have information about her whereabouts amid the rubble left by the disaster.
With the official death toll in Indonesia standing at 686 and 476 people still missing, the catastrophe has led to the evacuation of over a million individuals. The widespread destruction in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand adds to the string of severe weather events in Southeast Asia, including devastating typhoons in the Philippines and Vietnam, as well as recurring and extensive flooding in various regions.
Through tears, Ghani expressed his simple wish for his wife to receive a proper burial, lamenting the loss of their shared life and questioning his next steps in the absence of his home and partner.