TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Seven areas in North Sumatra, Indonesia, have been hit by floods and landslides due to heavy rainfall that occurred since last Saturday until Tuesday night, November 25, 2025. The high rainfall has caused several rivers to overflow. The North Sumatra Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) recorded an increasing number of casualties amidst the efforts to evacuate and search for missing residents.
Based on the data of the North Sumatra BPBD, the areas that experienced the worst floods and landslides were in the Central Tapanuli and South Tapanuli Regencies. In these two regencies, fatalities were found. Four residents of Mardame Village, Sitahuis District, Central Tapanuli Regency, were found dead due to being buried in a landslide in their home. The deceased were Dewi Hutabarat, a housewife, along with her three children: Tio Arta Rouli Lumbantobing, Vania Aurora Lumbantobing, and Ilona Lumbantobing.
Meanwhile, 34 flash flood victims in Tapsel suffered from severe and minor injuries. They were residents of Garoga Village; Aek Ngadol Village; Hutagodang Village; Batuhoring Village; Hapesong Baru Village, Suka Maju Benteng Hamlet, Batangtoru District, and received makeshift care.
"Currently, the establishment of a public kitchen post for disaster victims is being carried out in Batu Hula Village, which is considered safe from floods," said the Head of the North Sumatra BPBD, Tuahta Ramajaya Saragih, to Tempo on Tuesday night, November 25, 2025.
A landslide disaster struck a home in Parsariran, Hapesong Baru Village, Batangtoru, causing seven casualties. Three of them survived, while the other four are still buried in the landslide and are currently being searched for. "One of them is named Tika, a resident of Hapesong Baru Village, and has been declared dead," said Saragih.
The North Sumatra BPBD, Saragih added, has reported this disaster to the National Disaster Management Agency in the hope that the central government aid will strengthen the efforts of the North Sumatra BPBD. "The North Sumatra BPBD has sent personnel assistance and field tent aid," he said.
In addition to Tapteng and Tapsel, floods and landslides also occurred in the Mandailing Natal Regency; North Tapanuli (Taput); Nias and the cities of Gunung Sitoli and Sibolga. In the Taput Regency, floods and landslides occurred in Sitolubahal Village and Robean Village, Purbatua District, Taput. The Aek Mahassan River overflowed, submerging around 60 residential houses. Meanwhile, two landslide spots in Robean Village hit two houses and caused one family to suffer injuries.
The North Sumatra Regional Police noted that floods in the Muara Batang Gadis District, Mandailing Natal Regency, submerged hundreds of houses and forced 400 residents to evacuate. Meanwhile, in the city of Sibolga, six landslide spots resulted in five fatalities and damaged at least 17 houses. Four residents are suspected to be buried in the landslide and are still being searched for.
The Head of Operations Bureau of the North Sumatra Regional Police, Commissioner General Victor Togi Tambunan, said that four units equivalent to the Brimob company were dispatched to the affected areas for evacuation, search and rescue (SAR), and traffic management. In addition, the Polda medical and health doctorate team and the telematics team, as well as the Samapta forces, were sent to strengthen health services, data collection, and communication coordination in the field.
Disasters also occurred in South Nias due to rain. In Hilimegai District, inter-district roads were disrupted. In Fanayama District, one house suffered heavy damage, and in Onolalu District, the road access was affected due to a landslide. However, there were no fatalities.
Disasters occurred in the city of Gunungsitoli due to landslides caused by rain. The road was blocked by a landslide material along 25 meters and several houses suffered heavy damage. The landslides occurred early Monday morning, around 01:00 AM local time, at two spots: Nias Tengah Kilometer 12 Road in Hiligodu Ombolata Village, South Gunungsitoli, and in Dusun II Samasi Village, Idanoi Gunungsitoli.
Editor’s Choice: Major Floods, Landslides Sweep Parts of Sumatra; Several Casualties Reported
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