Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Severe flooding struck Aceh Utara, Langkat, Central Tapanuli, Sibolga City, and South Tapanuli between 25 and 27 November 2025 after extreme rainfall exceeded 150 millimeters per day. Prolonged high-intensity rainfall caused river discharge to surpass channel capacity, while land-cover changes inconsistent with forest-area functions accelerated sedimentation and reduced the ability of rivers to convey surface runoff.
In Aceh Utara, heavy rainfall combined with diminished soil infiltration forced 3,507 residents to evacuate and inundated hundreds of hectares of rice fields and aquaculture ponds. In Langkat Regency, floodwaters entered residential areas and damaged key infrastructure, including the collapse of the Titi Cempedak Bridge and the disruption of the North Sumatra–Aceh national road, restricting community mobility. Central Tapanuli, Sibolga City, and South Tapanuli recorded sudden flooding triggered by persistent rainfall and upstream sediment buildup, resulting in 15 fatalities, extensive damage to housing areas, and widespread disruption to daily activities.
The Ministry of Forestry intensified watershed management efforts in response to the rise in flood events. The ministry initiated the identification of vulnerable upstream zones, accelerated forest and land rehabilitation in degraded areas, and implemented revegetation along riverbanks and steep slopes to improve land stability. The ministry also tightened oversight of land-use changes to ensure that spatial utilization aligns with ecological functions.
Cross-sector coordination became a key focus as the Ministry of Forestry urged collaboration with related ministries and local governments to advance river normalization, increase hydrometeorological monitoring capacity, and strengthen early warning systems. These measures aim to restore environmental carrying capacity, reduce flood vulnerability, and ensure integrated water and land management from upstream to downstream. (*)
