Key Highlights
- Death toll in Indonesia’s floods rises to 631 as rescue efforts intensify
- Nearly 1.5 million people affected; almost 500 still missing
- Aid blocked by destroyed roads, washed-out bridges, and severe mudslides
- Questions grow over the government’s response and environmental mismanagement
JAKARTA (BBC) — December 2, 2025: Indonesia is facing one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent years as the death toll from last week’s catastrophic floods rose to 631, with rescue teams still struggling to reach several isolated communities. The floods—triggered by an extremely rare cyclone that formed over the Malacca Strait—have devastated three major provinces and affected nearly 1.5 million people, according to the country’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency.
Authorities warn that the number of casualties is likely to rise further, with around 500 people still missing and thousands more injured. Indonesia, along with several Asian nations, has endured days of torrential rainfall, leading to widespread floods and landslides across the region.
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Isolated Communities Cut Off
The hardest-hit areas include Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, where large swathes of land remain inaccessible. Entire villages have been cut off after roads collapsed, bridges were swept away, and power and communication networks failed.
Locals describe scenes of destruction unlike anything they have witnessed before. Arini Amalia, a resident from Aceh’s Pidie Jaya Regency, told the BBC the water rose “like a tsunami”.
“My grandmother says this is the worst in her lifetime,” she said.
In many areas, rescue teams have been forced to travel on foot or use motorcycles because larger vehicles cannot move through the wreckage. Drone footage and ground images from the disaster zone show roads buried under mud and debris, with logs piled high against what remains of bridges and buildings.
Families Searching for Loved Ones
In West Sumatra, the devastation is most visible near the famous Twin Bridges landmark, which now lies buried under layers of mud and rubble. Mariana, a resident searching for her missing family members— including her teenage son—watched anxiously as excavators dug through the debris.
“Seeing how thick the mud is, I keep thinking what condition my child will be in when they find him,” she said. “Maybe even their faces won’t be recognisable.”
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The emotional toll on survivors is compounded by extreme shortages of food and essential supplies. In Central Tapanuli, one of the worst affected districts, residents say aid workers have been unable to reach them.
“Everything is gone. We can’t eat. Even instant noodles are being fought over,” said a survivor named Maysanti.
Access to clean water and communications is also limited. In Central Aceh, thousands queued outside government offices where Starlink devices were set up temporarily so residents could contact relatives or charge mobile phones.
Anger Over Delayed Aid
As rescue efforts continue, frustration is mounting over the government’s disaster preparedness and response. Critics say red tape has slowed the distribution of food and emergency aid, leaving communities stranded without help for days.
Environmental activists have also blamed decades of deforestation, illegal mining, and agricultural land clearing, claiming these practices intensified the effects of the floods by destabilising the soil and reducing natural water buffers.
During a visit to North Sumatra, President Prabowo Subianto acknowledged that several key roads remain blocked but insisted the government is “doing everything we can to overcome the difficulties”.
“We face this disaster with resilience and solidarity,” he said, adding that Indonesia “will overcome this”.
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Region-Wide Weather Crisis
The disaster forms part of a broader pattern of extreme weather across South and Southeast Asia, where around 1,200 people have died in the past week due to floods and landslides. Sri Lanka has recorded at least 390 deaths, while Thailand has reported at least 176.
Meteorologists say there is no single cause behind the devastation. Instead, a combination of rare cyclonic activity, an intense northeast monsoon, and existing tropical weather systems have produced historic rainfall.
Cyclonic Storm Ditwah dumped more than half a metre of rain on Sri Lanka, while Cyclonic Storm Senyar brought over a metre of rainfall to parts of Sumatra and southern Thailand. Weather experts note that Senyar formed unusually close to the equator—an extremely rare event.
Additional rainfall is expected across Vietnam as remnants of ex-Typhoon Koto drift toward the coast.
Climate experts warn that while global warming may not increase the number of cyclones, the storms that do form are becoming more intense, delivering higher rainfall and causing increasingly devastating floods.
Rescue operations in Indonesia remain ongoing, with authorities deploying additional personnel and urging international partners for assistance as the humanitarian crisis deepens.
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