The vast archipelago of western Indonesia, along with its neighbors Malaysia and Thailand, has been hit by heavy rainfall that has caused dozens of deaths in the region in recent days.

According to the tally established this morning (Friday), the death toll has risen to 62, with 95 injured, Ferry Walintukan, spokesman for the North Sumatra police, told AFP, adding that at least 65 people are still missing in his locality."Our priority remains evacuation and assistance. We hope the weather will improve so we can deploy a helicopter to the area," he added, noting that many roads are cut off.

In Sibolga, the hardest-hit city, more than 30 people have died, he added.

In the neighboring province of West Sumatra, at least 22 people have died and 12 others are missing, according to the local disaster management agency.

Torrential rains have been falling for several days on the provinces of West and North Sumatra as well as on the province of Aceh, at the western end of the large island, causing floods, landslides and significant damage to infrastructure.

Severe flooding is affecting the Lubul Minturun region (West Sumatra) in Indonesia on November 27, following heavy rainfall. Video via @WeatherMonitorspic.twitter.com/fAHKEpggD1
— Meteo60 (@meteo60)
November 27, 2025

In this province of Aceh, nearly 1,500 people have been evacuated, according to the local disaster management agency.

Power outages have been reported in parts of the province, according to an AFP journalist. The local branch of the state-owned electricity company Perusahaan Listrik Negara indicated mid-week that it had deployed staff to gradually restore power supply.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, a cyclone named Senyar formed on Wednesday and could cause further extreme weather conditions in parts of the region, including Aceh and North Sumatra, in the coming days.

Impact of climate change

Climate change has also increased the intensity of storms, accompanied by heavier rainfall, flash floods and more violent gusts.

Indonesia: Flood death toll rises to 84

🎥🇮🇩 The death toll from floods and landslides that struck Indonesia's large island of Sumatra has risen to 84, rescue officials announced Friday, November 28.

— Press TV French (@fr_presstv) November 28, 2025

At least 38 people died in severe weather earlier this month in central Java, and search operations ended with 13 people still missing.

Indonesian authorities have also warned of the possibility of another surge in rainfall in the coming days, as several storm cells continue to develop over the Strait of Malacca and the Indian Ocean. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has warned that the ground, already saturated by weeks of heavy rain, could give way more easily, increasing the risk of sudden landslides in mountainous and densely populated areas.

In several rural districts of North Sumatra, rescue teams are struggling to reach some isolated villages, where dozens of houses are reported to have been swept away by mudslides. Witnesses describe scenes of chaos: roads washed out, bridges collapsed, vehicles submerged, and families trying to salvage what they could from knee-deep water.

BREAKING: After forming in the Strait of Malacca in the North Indian Ocean (NIO) basin, made a historic landfall in #Sumatra, re-emerging again in the Strait of Malacca, and made another historic landfall in the western coast of Peninsular #Malaysia — crossing the Western Pacific…

— mateyo (@matteyowwwwww) November 28, 2025

Authorities have distributed tents, food and blankets, but many areas remain difficult to access due to the steep topography.

Heavily impacted regions

In Aceh, a region already heavily impacted by the 2004 tsunami, residents live in fear of another major disaster. Several inhabitants told local media that the recurring floods are becoming more frequent and more violent than they were ten or fifteen years ago. In some villages, mosques, schools, and clinics have been converted into emergency shelters for displaced families.

Health authorities have also expressed concern about the risk of waterborne diseases, including leptospirosis, dengue fever, and acute respiratory infections. Heavy rains and stagnant water are creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and several district hospitals have reported an increase in admissions over the past week.

Pray for Sumatra

— ANTASENA  (@Arya_________75) November 28, 2025

The Ministry of Health has requested a strengthening of prevention campaigns and the sending of medicines to the most affected areas.

The situation is made even more complex by the fragility of infrastructure in Indonesia, a country where landslides and flash floods are among the deadliest natural disasters.

Every year, hundreds of families are forced to relocate due to soil erosion, massive deforestation, and rapid urbanization. Indonesian experts point out that reforestation efforts, though considered a priority, are progressing too slowly to offset environmental degradation.