Severe flooding and landslides across three provinces on Indonesia’s Sumatra island have resulted in at least 225 fatalities, with dozens more people reported missing. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) confirmed the latest figures on Saturday, indicating that rescue operations may uncover more casualties as teams reach remote areas isolated by days of torrential rain.
According to BNPB chief Suharyanto, the situation remains fluid. “There are still points we have not been able to enter. The data will continue to change,” he stated. The province of North Sumatra has been particularly affected, reporting 116 deaths and 42 individuals missing. The combination of heavy rainfall and the steep terrain has triggered landslides, leading to damaged rural roads and disrupted transport routes.
In Aceh, located at the northern tip of the island, officials reported 35 deaths, with an additional 25 people unaccounted for and eight injured. The flooding has forced over 4,800 households to evacuate, prompting the establishment of nearly 100 shelters in Lhokseumawe, Aceh’s second-largest city. The flooding has also severely impacted the main transport corridor along Aceh’s eastern coast, including the failure of a crucial bridge connecting the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, to its southern districts.
West Sumatra has not been spared, with the disaster agency reporting 74 deaths, 12 missing, and four injured. More than 3,900 households are currently sheltering in temporary facilities. As forecasts predict continued heavy rain, the Indonesian government has initiated cloud-seeding flights to mitigate the risk of further landslides and flash floods. Ongoing debris blockages and limited road access hinder rescue efforts in the affected areas.
Indonesia is known for experiencing some of the world’s most intense monsoon rains, and scientists warn that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to rising global temperatures. The current crisis highlights the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness and response mechanisms in the face of increasingly severe weather patterns.
