North Sumatra: The floods across North Sumatra have caused at least 34 deaths and prompted the evacuation of up to 8,000 residents as authorities have struggled to restore access to several cut-off regions.
Rescue operations have been severely hindered after continuous torrential rain triggered widespread landslides and destroyed communication lines across affected districts. Officials have reported that at least 52 people have remained missing, with North Sumatra regional police spokesperson Ferry Walintukan stating that teams have faced major obstacles due to damaged roads and unstable terrain.
A rare tropical cyclone has swept across Sumatra, pushing waters from the Malacca Strait inland and worsening the floods, according to the country’s meteorological agency. The disaster mitigation agency has confirmed that aid distribution has shifted to helicopters because several key routes remain blocked by landslide debris.
The search and rescue agency has reported that one family in Central Tapanuli is among the confirmed dead. Footage shared by emergency teams shows rapid water currents tearing through residential areas, destroying structures and forcing residents to climb onto roofs as rescuers navigate the waters in orange inflatable rafts.
The impact has extended beyond North Sumatra, with floods and landslides affecting the provinces of West Sumatra and Aceh. Indonesia’s Antara news agency has reported that 10 of Aceh’s 23 cities and districts have been submerged, prompting further warnings of extreme weather over the next two days. The meteorological agency has projected additional heavy rainfall in Aceh, Riau and other Sumatran provinces, raising concerns about further displacement.
The region has faced a series of natural disasters this week. A magnitude 6.6 earthquake has struck Simeulue Island off western Sumatra, sending rain-soaked residents outside, although no casualties or tsunami risk have been reported.
Meanwhile, more than 30 people have been killed by severe flooding in Thailand and Malaysia, and Sri Lanka has reported at least 31 deaths from heavy rains, floods and landslides with further residents missing.
The current situation in Indonesia underscores the scale of the disaster unfolding across Southeast Asia, as multiple nations battle extreme weather, infrastructure collapse and widespread displacement triggered by the ongoing storms.
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