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Torrential Rains Trigger Deadly Landslides and Flash Floods on Sumatra — At Least 10 Dead, 6 Missing

Heavy monsoon rains on Sumatra have caused flash floods and landslides across six regencies in North Sumatra, killing at least 10 people and leaving six missing. Sibolga was among the worst hit, with teams recovering five bodies and searching for several missing residents, while Central Tapanuli reported a family of four dead and nearly 2,000 structures flooded. Emergency shelters are open and officials have urged evacuations as continued rain raises the risk of more slides. Relief operations in Central Java ended the same day after separate landslides killed dozens earlier in the week.

10:53 AM, 11/26/2025Environment
Torrential Rains Trigger Deadly Landslides and Flash Floods on Sumatra — At Least 10 Dead, 6 Missing

Heavy monsoon rains have caused devastating flash floods and landslides across six regencies in North Sumatra, Indonesia, killing at least 10 people and leaving six others unaccounted for, authorities said.

Rescue teams have struggled to reach many affected communities after days of downpours forced rivers to burst their banks and sent mud, rocks and toppled trees tumbling into hilly villages. The hardest-hit city, Sibolga, reported that teams had recovered at least five bodies and reached three injured people while searching for four villagers who remain missing.

In neighboring Central Tapanuli district, several landslides demolished homes; a family of four was confirmed dead and nearly 2,000 houses and buildings were inundated by floodwaters. Elsewhere, an uprooted tree killed one resident and injured another in South Tapanuli. In Mandailing Natal district, a bridge was swept away and roughly 470 houses were submerged. On Nias island, a main road was blocked by thick mud and debris, further hampering relief efforts.

Videos shared on social media show water pouring over rooftops and streets transformed into violent torrents carrying tree trunks and other debris, forcing residents to scramble for higher ground. Local authorities have established emergency shelters and urged people in high‑risk zones to evacuate immediately.

Sibolga police chief Eddy Inganta warned that continued rainfall could spark more slides after six landslides in the hilly city flattened 17 houses and a café. "Bad weather and mudslides hampered the rescue operation," he said, noting that access to many areas remains limited and rescuers continue to face dangerous conditions.

The disasters on Sumatra occurred the same day the National Disaster Mitigation Agency announced the completion of relief operations in two areas of Java following separate torrential rains and landslides that killed 38 people in Central Java's Cilacap and Banjarnegara districts. More than 1,000 rescuers had been deployed in Central Java, and several people remained unaccounted for when those operations ended amid unstable ground and hazardous conditions.

Context and outlook

Indonesia regularly experiences heavy seasonal rain from roughly October through March. The archipelago's mountainous terrain and densely populated floodplains make many communities vulnerable to sudden landslides and flash flooding during the rainy season.

Authorities continue search-and-rescue efforts where possible and have appealed for emergency assistance to help affected communities recover and relocate those in immediate danger.

Reporting contributed by Niniek Karmini.

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