UPDATE: The search for victims intensifies across Indonesia’s Sumatra Island after devastating flash floods and landslides have left 49 people dead and 67 still missing. Rescuers are urgently combing through rivers and rubble as the death toll continues to rise.
The disaster struck on October 3, 2023, when relentless monsoon rains caused rivers to overflow in North Sumatra province, devastating villages and submerging over 2,000 homes. Nearly 5,000 residents have fled to government shelters as authorities race against time to locate survivors.
Authorities report that 17 bodies have been recovered in South Tapanuli district and eight in Sibolga city. In Central Tapanuli, landslides tragically claimed the lives of a family of four. Rescuers are also searching for five individuals reported missing in the Humbang Hasundutan district, where landslides have turned homes into debris.
Ferry Walintukan, spokesperson for the North Sumatra provincial police, stated,
“With many missing and some remote areas still unreachable, the death toll is likely to rise.”
In response to the ongoing crisis, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency has forecasted more heavy rainfall in North Sumatra, increasing the risk of further disasters. To mitigate this, disaster agency chief Suharyanto announced plans for cloud seeding, stating,
“We are deploying weather modification technology starting tomorrow to prevent further rainfall during this emergency response period.”
With rescue operations underway, personnel are using jackhammers, saws, and even their bare hands to search through thick mud and debris. Many residents have found themselves stranded on roofs, desperately awaiting rescue.
The flooding crisis extends beyond North Sumatra, affecting numerous other provinces. In Aceh and West Sumatra, hundreds of homes are inundated, with rescue teams recovering at least nine bodies from landslides in Central Aceh. Local authorities have reported nearly 47,000 people displaced in Aceh alone, with around 1,500 residents seeking refuge in temporary shelters.
In West Sumatra, six bodies have been recovered from the Lumin Park area of Padang, where flooding submerged over 3,300 houses. Rescue efforts continue in Jorong Toboh village, where landslides have isolated residents, and teams are actively searching for 14 people believed buried under mud.
The recurring heavy seasonal rain from October to March frequently leads to such disasters in Indonesia, where millions live in vulnerable mountainous areas or near fertile floodplains. As the search and rescue efforts continue, the situation remains critical.
Stay tuned for more updates as Indonesia grapples with this devastating natural disaster and the urgent efforts to save lives.
