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1h ago

Indonesia Flood Toll Rises to 867 as Military Builds Bridges, Vice President Apologizes

Officials blame a rare cyclone alongside degraded hillsides.

Villagers cut logs that were washed away by a flash flood, intending to use them as materials to rebuild their damaged homes in Garoga in North Sumatra province on December 4, 2025.
A man sits on the window sill of a heavily damaged house after deadly landslides following heavy rains in Malalak, Agam regency, West Sumatra province, Indonesia. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan
A damaged vehicle sits amongst debris after deadly landslides following heavy rains in Malalak, Agam regency, West Sumatra province, Indonesia. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan
Survivors in Indonesia's Sumatra are counting the cost of the last week's flash floods that killed 1,500 people across four countries

Overview

  • Authorities reported 867 dead and 521 missing across Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra after cyclone-driven floods and landslides.
  • The military erected at least 10 Bailey bridges, deployed mobile reverse osmosis units and continued airdrops to supply isolated communities cut off by damaged roads.
  • Vice President Gibran issued a public apology after touring disaster zones, as local leaders sought national emergency status despite the president’s earlier view that current measures suffice.
  • Indonesia moved to revoke permits and summon companies over suspected forest clearing that aggravated flooding, with potential criminal prosecutions under review.
  • The meteorological agency warned of very heavy rain in Aceh through Saturday, and AFP verified that a viral aerial ‘flood’ video was AI-generated.