8 months ago
Indonesia President Expects Sumatra Recovery in 2-3 Months After Deadly Floods
A very bad flood happened in Sumatra, Indonesia, which killed more than 1,000 people and left many missing.
The president said it will take 2-3 months for things to go back to normal.
The government is building temporary homes and has stopped some companies from operating because they might have made the flood worse.
They are also taking away some permits for using the forest.
Other countries offered to help, but the president said they can handle it themselves.
The death toll from floods and landslides on Sumatra has reached 1,030, with 206 people still missing.
President Prabowo Subianto expects normal activities to resume in 2-3 months.
Reconstruction is underway, with hundreds of temporary homes to be built, costing at least $3.11 billion.
Deforestation linked to mining and logging is said to have worsened the flood impact.
The environment ministry has temporarily halted operations of companies accused of violations and will revoke permits of those found guilty.
- Who
- Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, affected residents, green groups, environment ministry
- What
- Deadly floods and landslides on Sumatra, reconstruction efforts, permit revocations
- Where
- Sumatra, Indonesia, with additional impacts in southern Thailand and Malaysia
- When
- Floods in late November, current updates as of Monday, December 15
- Why
- Heavy rains and cyclones caused floods and landslides, exacerbated by deforestation
Key facts
- Death Toll
- 1,030
- Missing Persons
- 206
- Estimated Reconstruction Cost
- $3.11 billion
- Temporary Homes
- Hundreds to be built
- Deforestation Impact
- Linked to mining and logging
- Permits Revoked
- 22 forest use permits (over 1 million hectares)
- Affected Provinces
- 3 provinces on Sumatra
- Foreign Aid
- Offered by foreign leaders
Quotes
Harrison
A 39-year-old resident of Langsa, Indonesia.
“All we could see were large trees — logs carried by the current — and rooftops. The city was gone.”
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“Everyone wandered aimlessly, confused, because they were all searching for food and water.”
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Inno
A 60-year-old resident of a neighborhood in Sumatra, Indonesia, whose home was swept away by the floods.
“They came from the mountains; everything is being cut down. We don’t know who is responsible, but everyone knows it’s happening.”
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“Nothing is left. I’ve lived here for almost 50 years, and I have never seen a flood this devastating.”
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Prabowo Subianto
President of Indonesia.
“God willing, we will fix this. The government will step in and help everyone.”
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“We must protect our environment and our nature. We cannot cut down trees carelessly.”
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Andika Putra
Hospital director of Muda Sedia hospital in Karang Baru, Indonesia.
“This scale of flooding has never happened before in the hospital’s history.”
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Abdul Muhari
Spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster management agency.
“The cyclone was the deadliest in Indonesia since one that hit Flores in 1973.”
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Bintang Agam
A 26-year-old resident of Aceh, Indonesia, who lost his parents in the 2004 tsunami.
“People are most afraid of December because of the tsunami trauma. For Acehnese people, even a three-meter wave is enough to bring back old wounds.”
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Sarah Carter
Research associate at WRI’s Global Forest Watch.
“There is a known link between tree cover and flooding. Trees absorb water, acting like a sponge to prevent floods and landslides. Their roots help to prevent landslides by holding the soil together.”
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Dewi Ratna Sari
Nature-based solutions manager at WRI in Indonesia.
“People need to understand why we should protect this flood plain area. We need to adapt because this is already at a crisis stage.”
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Ade Soekadis
Executive director of Mercy Corps Indonesia.
“What is unique about this disaster is the vast size of the affected areas. A million internally displaced people are spread over thousands of villages across three provinces, and the government doesn’t have the resources to build emergency shelters everywhere they’re needed.”
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Budi Ramadhan
A 45-year-old resident of Medan, Indonesia, whose house was flooded.
“It feels as if nature is angry with us as human beings. The floodwater is black and foul-smelling. This is something unnatural.”
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