December 1, 2025 | 01:55 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Recent floods and landslides that swept through northern parts of Sumatra were not solely triggered by climate factors or extreme weather, said an Atmospheric physics professor at Andalas University in Padang, West Sumatra.
Environmental Degradation
Heavy continuous rain since November 17, along with a tropical storm that formed in the Malacca Strait, has been widely acknowledged as the cause of the disasters. But the professor said the extensive damage seen in rivers, broken bridges, and drifting logs was not just caused by climate factors.
"Environmental degradation plays a part," he said on Monday, December 1, as reported by Antara.
Marzuki explained that the evidence shows that environmental damage exacerbated the impacts of hydrometeorological disasters.
"Rivers fundamentally have natural pathways, and when these pathways are disrupted due to human activities, the disasters that occur become more severe," he pointed out.
He called on the government and stakeholders to prioritize environmental management to minimize damage during disasters. Extreme rainfall may not be controllable, he said, but its impact can be reduced. "The key lies in environmental management."
Sumatra Floods Call for Policy Review
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni previously pledged to evaluate forest and environmental management policies in the wake of the floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. He referred to these tragic events as a moment for policy evaluation, especially in anticipating ecologically harmful disasters for the public.
"Everyone sees, hears, and feels what is happening in these three provinces. We express our deep sorrow, but this is also a good opportunity for us to evaluate policies," Raja Juli stated in his written statement on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Raja Juli made the remark during his visit to Riau on Saturday, November 29, as part of the handover of Customary Forest Certificates to the local indigenous communities, whom he considers most capable of preserving the area.
Nevertheless, Raja Juli only acknowledged illegal deforestation as one of the primary causes of this disaster. He then called for public support to resolve this issue to prevent similar disasters from recurring in the future.
The floods and landslides in Sumatra have killed 442 residents as of November 30, with about 402 people reported missing. Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto stated that North Sumatra has been the most affected with the highest number of casualties.
He detailed that the death toll in North Sumatra has reached 217 people, with 209 missing. Then in West Sumatra, 129 have died, and 118 are still missing. Furthermore, the death toll in Aceh reached 96 with 75 others missing.
Editor’s Choice: Prabowo Departs for Sumatra to Inspect Disaster-Hit Areas
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Study Finds New Climate Patterns Could Improve Extreme Weather Predictions
3 hari lalu
Recently discovered anomalous climate conditions increase the likelihood of extreme weather, according to Austrian researchers.
Why Greenpeace Says COP30 in Brazil Was a Failure
6 hari lalu
Greenpeace and several civil society groups regard the COP30, which takes place at the entrance to the Amazon Forest, as nothing more than a gimmick.
Indonesia Absent from Push for a 'Collective Effort' at COP30
8 hari lalu
Several parties have expressed disappointment that Indonesia's climate commitment at COP30 falls short of Colombia's.
Next Year's COP31: Turkey to Host, Australia to Lead Climate Negotiations
9 hari lalu
Australia and Turkey have reached an agreement on the host for COP31, with Turkey as the host and Australia leading the intergovernmental negotiations in the forum.
Environment Watchdog Cast Doubts in Indonesia's Second Climate NDC
10 hari lalu
Pantau Gambut is pessimistic about the simultaneous optimization of emission reduction, economic growth, and social improvement.
K-Pop Fans' Climate Campaign Draws Global Attention at COP30 in Brazil
10 hari lalu
KPOP4PLANET campaign manager emphasized that K-pop fans have been taking climate action together and creating change.
Turkey to Host COP31 After Australia Concedes
11 hari lalu
Next year's COP climate conference will be held under an unusual setup: Turkey will be the host the talks, but Australia will steer the negotiations.
Civil Society Coalition Names Indonesia as 'Fossil of the Day' at COP30
12 hari lalu
Global civil society coalition assesses Indonesia as the worst example of a developing country mimicking the behavior of developed countries at COP.
Indonesia's Carbon Sales at COP30 Near Rp7 Trillion out of Rp16 Trillion Goal
12 hari lalu
The Indonesian government is intensifying efforts to boost carbon trading over the next week through the ambitious carbon collection to climate action.
So Many Climate Numbers. What Do They All Mean?
12 hari lalu
Even "numbers people" can be confused by the array of digits used to describe climate progress and failings. Here's what they really mean.
