Indonesia News: Forest Damage Suspected as Main Cause of Sumut Flood Tragedy

Catastrophic floods and landslides hit 12 districts in North Sumatra since Wednesday (26/11) due to heavy rains, with North Tapanuli being the worst region.

Floods in Padang Sidempuan Regency, North Sumatra Province on Tuesday (25-11-25) Credit: BPBD Padang Sidempuan

The weather improved slightly on Thursday, but the catastrophic effects of floods that hit North Sumatra this year were judged to be far more severe than similar events in the past.

Data from North Sumatra Police as of Thursday (27/11) recorded 43 victims dead and 88 people still missing.

Wahana Environment (Walhi) of North Sumatra believes that the root of this extraordinary disaster problem is the massive destruction of forests in the past five to ten years.

The drastic decrease in forest cover, especially in the upstream areas, is due to logging activities carried out by large corporations.

Jaka Kelana Damanik of Walhi Sumut criticized harshly, as most of the permits of these large, environmentally damaging corporations were issued by the central government.

However, when disaster strikes, the impact is directly borne by vulnerable local communities.

Ironically, the profit sharing that district (5%) and provincial (1%) governments receive is much smaller than that enjoyed by corporations and central government.

A bridge in North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, pictured after being severed by flooding on Tuesday (November 25th). Credit: BPBD Tapanuli Utara

Videos on social media showing large logs being dragged down by the floods are considered strong evidence of massive logging.

• The Batang Toru ecosystem (Harangan Tapanuli), which is the last tropical forest in North Sumatra and home to rare flora such as the Tapanuli Orangutan, has become particularly vulnerable.
• Walhi noted at least 5,000 hectares of land in the Batang Toru Ecosystem had been deforested in the past 10 years.

Several prevention efforts have been made at the district level:

• North Tapanuli has issued rules recognizing indigenous territories as an attempt to prevent corporate expansion, as well as appealing to people not to cooperate with pulp companies.
• Tapanuli Tengah supports Walhi's proposal that the Batang Toru Ecosystem be designated as a National Strategic Area for the sake of environmental protection, and the local Regent has advised the central government.
• Unfortunately, similar efforts have not been seen in South Tapanuli.

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Report from Nurhadi Sucahyo

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