Key Highlights
- A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck Sumatra near Aceh as Indonesia faces severe floods and landslides across North Sumatra.
- At least 28 people have died, and nearly 8,000 have been evacuated amid blocked roads.
- A rare tropical cyclone intensified flooding and triggered fresh landslides.
Indonesia’s Sumatra island was rocked by a 6.6 magnitude earthquake on Thursday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), adding to the misery of a region already overwhelmed by floods, landslides and rapidly deteriorating weather.
Powerful Earthquake Hits Sumatra as Disasters Pile Up
The quake struck near Aceh province at a depth of 25.4 kilometres, Indonesia’s geophysics agency said, while noting that it carried no tsunami risk. But the tremor came at the worst possible time: vast stretches of North Sumatra remain inundated, rescue efforts are stretched thin, and thousands are still missing or stranded.
Floods and Landslides Kill Dozens, Leave Entire Areas Cut Off
Even before the quake, North Sumatra had been slammed by deadly floods and landslides triggered by days of relentless rain. At least 28 people were confirmed dead by Thursday, with 10 still missing, as reported by Reuters.
Rescue teams are battling extraordinary conditions. Roads remain buried under landslide debris, bridges have collapsed, and communication lines have been severed across several districts, forcing authorities to rely on helicopters for aid drops and evacuations.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for Indonesia’s national disaster mitigation agency, said nearly 8,000 residents have been displaced so far. However, the actual numbers may be higher, as teams struggle to access areas cut off by mudslides and fallen trees.
Local disaster official Yuyun Karseno told Reuters that Sibolga and Central Tapanuli are among the areas most severely affected. “There is no access at all because everything has been cut off,” he said. “We still have no way to reach or communicate with people in Sibolga and Central Tapanuli.”
A Rare Tropical Cyclone Intensifies the Crisis
Indonesia’s meteorological agency said a rare tropical cyclone swept across Sumatra on Wednesday, pushing surges into the Malacca Strait and unleashing widespread flooding. Southeast Asia has been grappling with a wave of extreme weather this week, with parts of Thailand and Malaysia also reporting deadly floods and waterlogged hospitals.
Officials warn the situation in Indonesia could worsen, predicting more flooding and landslides across several provinces, including Aceh and Riau, in the next 48 hours.
Flash Floods, Buried Homes and Rising Death Toll
Another wave of chaos struck Sumatra on Tuesday when landslides and flash floods caused by torrential rain killed at least 17 people, according to an Associated Press report. Six remain missing as emergency teams continue combing through destroyed homes and washed-out neighbourhoods.
In Central Tapanuli, landslides flattened multiple houses, killing at least one family of four. Floodwaters also inundated nearly 2,000 homes, damaging schools, shops and local government buildings.
Furthermore, videos circulated on social media platforms showed water racing over rooftops, residents wading through chest-high currents and entire streets transforming into fast-moving rivers that carried uprooted trees and debris.
Indonesia Faces Consecutive Disasters Across Islands
The fresh destruction hit just as Indonesia’s national disaster agency declared the end of major relief operations in two Central Java districts: Cilacap and Banjarnegara, where 38 people died after ten days of rescue work following earlier landslides.
Indonesia’s geography, an archipelago of 17,000 islands, makes it highly vulnerable during the rainy season, which runs from October to March. Mountainous terrain, unstable soil and densely packed floodplains exacerbate the risks of landslides and flash floods, especially during years with intensified tropical activity.
For residents of Sumatra, the combination of earthquake shocks, rising waters, and blocked roads has created a cascading disaster with no immediate relief in sight.
