The Darul Mukhlisin mosque in northern Sumatra remains blocked by a massive heap of uprooted trees and logs nearly two weeks after devastating floods, preventing worshippers from entering. The disaster has claimed 995 lives, left 226 people missing and displaced almost 890,000. Authorities and environmentalists say uncontrolled logging and forest loss worsened floods and landslides; reconstruction costs are estimated at 51.82 trillion rupiah (~$3.1bn). President Prabowo Subianto has pledged government support while survivors complain relief is too slow.
Thousands of Uprooted Trees Block Sumatra Mosque After Catastrophic Floods
Almost two weeks on from devastating floods, Muslim worshippers in Indonesia's Sumatra who gathered at their local mosque were blocked from entering by a huge pile of uprooted trees (Aditya Aji)(Aditya Aji/AFP/AFP)
Almost two weeks after catastrophic flooding in northern Sumatra, the Darul Mukhlisin mosque and its attached Islamic boarding school remain sealed off by a vast mound of uprooted trees and felled logs, preventing worshippers from entering for daily and Friday prayers.
Timber Piled By Floodwaters
Torrential rains swept through nearby rainforest, carrying thousands of trees and logs into the mosque compound. Villagers say the building likely absorbed much of the debris, which may have spared downstream communities from even worse damage.
"We have no idea where all this wood came from,"
said Angga, 37, of Tanjung Karang village. "Now it's impossible to use. The mosque used to stand near a river. But the river is gone — it's turned into dead land."
Human Toll And Displacement
By Friday, officials reported the disaster had claimed 995 lives, left 226 people missing and displaced nearly 890,000 residents, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. Authorities estimate reconstruction costs could reach 51.82 trillion rupiah (about $3.1 billion).
Environment, Causes And Government Response
Authorities and environmentalists have blamed uncontrolled logging and widespread forest loss for amplifying floods and landslides by removing trees that normally stabilize soil and absorb rainfall. Indonesia consistently ranks among the countries with the highest annual deforestation rates.
"Trees must not be cut down indiscriminately,"
President Prabowo Subianto said during a visit to Aceh Tamiang, pledging government support and urging local governments to strengthen forest protection. He apologised for any shortcomings and said relief operations are ongoing.
Relief Challenges And Local Response
Survivors voiced frustration at the pace of aid distribution. In nearby Babo Village, 37-year-old Khairi Ramadhan said he planned to find another mosque for prayers: "I'll find one that wasn't hit by the flood. Maybe some have already been cleaned. I don't want to dwell on sorrow anymore."
Rescue and recovery work continues as communities and officials clear debris, assess structural damage and plan long-term rebuilding.
