Aceh Tamiang Regency has emerged as one of the areas most severely affected by the devastating flash floods that struck on Wednesday, November 26th. Two villages within the regency, Lintang Bawah and Sukajadi, bore the brunt of the disaster, suffering extensive damage.
In the aftermath, what remains is a grim landscape of shattered buildings, colossal logs, thick mud, and only a handful of houses still standing. Amidst the desolation, several survivors have recounted their arduous struggle to stay alive for days, often with no assistance.
“Those who survived were living on the rooftops of their houses, with no help coming… Some even endured on rooftops with their four-year-old children, for three days without food or water,” shared Fitriana, a survivor from Lintang Bawah Village, painting a harrowing picture of desperation.
For at least nine days, no aid reached this isolated region. One resident vividly described the scene as a “zombie town,” overwhelmed by the sheer destruction and the pervasive stench of decay. The dire situation also led to widespread looting, with dozens of residents forcibly entering supermarkets and grocery stores in Aceh Tamiang to seize much-needed food supplies.
According to data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), as of Saturday afternoon, December 6th, the death toll in Aceh Tamiang had tragically climbed to 48, with another 18 individuals sustaining injuries.
The flash floods that tore through Aceh Tamiang last Wednesday left deep and lasting scars, particularly for 53-year-old Fitriana. A resident of Lintang Bawah Village, Kuala Simpang District, Aceh Tamiang, Fitriana witnessed her community ravaged by the deluge.
The majority of homes in Fitriana’s village were severely damaged or destroyed by the surging floodwaters and powerful timber logs carried by the current. Fitriana recounted how she and most villagers were unable to salvage any belongings, not even important documents, due to the terrifying speed at which the water rose.
“Those who survived were living on the rooftops of their houses, with no help coming,” Fitriana stated, describing the catastrophe as the worst flood she had ever witnessed in her homeland. For several agonizing days, the villagers were forced to shelter on their rooftops, battling hunger and thirst.
Fitriana painfully recalled the plight of some, saying, “There were those who survived on their rooftops with their four-year-old children, for three days without food or water.” The nights were particularly terrifying, engulfed in darkness and the relentless roar of the floodwaters, punctuated by the thunderous crashes of logs against homes, fueling intense fear among the survivors.
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The flood, according to Fitriana, obliterated approximately 90% of the houses in her village, leaving only bare cement floors behind. This catastrophic event rendered around 300 families homeless. Fitriana and five other families, all her siblings, are now residing in a self-built temporary shelter constructed from salvaged wooden debris from washed-away homes. Beyond the immense property damage, Fitriana confirmed that two lives were lost in her village.
Similar devastation befell the residents of Sukajadi Village, Aceh Tamiang. Here, nearly all of the 323 families lost their homes. Among them was M. Nur, a revered village elder (imam gampoeng) in Sukajadi, who shared his harrowing experience.
“When the flood came, we initially just stayed in our house, moving furniture to higher ground. But the water kept rising higher and higher. Fortunately, a boat passed by and evacuated us,” Nur recounted. Prioritizing his family’s safety, he added, “Because my wife was ill, I made sure my child and wife got onto the boat first for evacuation.”
While his wife was being evacuated, M. Nur and his child, Deby, sought refuge on the second floor of their house. However, the water continued its relentless ascent, reaching adult neck-level even on the second floor. Providentially, the boat swiftly returned to rescue them. The Nur family was initially evacuated to a neighboring area, Desa Kesehatan, only to find that village also succumbing to the floods. They then relocated to Desa Gampoeng Dalam, where once again, the floodwaters struck.
“That night, as we were sleeping, water suddenly soaked the mattresses we were on [in Desa Gampoeng Dalam]. But we couldn’t go anywhere else, as there was no higher ground left,” he recalled. “Fortunately, my daughter-in-law’s house had multiple stories. So we climbed up, and that’s where we found safety.” To this day, M. Nur has not been able to see his home, but his children have confirmed that “the house is completely gone and leveled to the ground.”
In Kampung Dalam, Aceh Tamiang, resident Arif reported widespread looting in the days following the flood. By Sunday, November 30th, Arif witnessed dozens of people forcibly entering supermarkets and grocery stores to procure food supplies. “Looting was happening everywhere,” he stated, highlighting the desperate situation.
Arif explained the underlying reasons for the unrest: “Just the day before, we were still trying to buy food; we had money to purchase basic necessity packages priced at Rp80,000. But the next day, people no longer wanted to buy, they were just taking things, probably because it was too expensive for the community. Even 10 kilograms of rice cost Rp250,000.” Arif also criticized the complete absence of local government personnel, including police, fire services, SAR teams, or BPBD (Regional Disaster Management Agency), in the immediate aftermath of the floods.
Compounding the challenges of looting, the severe flood conditions also forced the government to release prisoners in Aceh Tamiang. “There was even a correctional facility in [Aceh] Tamiang where the water had reached the roof, forcing the release of inmates there for humanitarian reasons,” stated Minister of Immigration and Corrections (Imipas) Agus Andrianto in Jakarta on Friday, December 5th.
Agus clarified that his ministry had coordinated with the police, military (TNI), and local government to temporarily house the inmates, but received no response, necessitating their release. “The reason is humanitarian; it’s likely they were saving themselves or their families,” he explained. Agus concluded, “Hopefully, once everything subsides, they will be able to return. But the reason is humanitarian. If they weren’t released, if the water reached the roof, then we would be at fault.”
Approximately six days after the catastrophic floods, on Tuesday, December 2nd, the government commenced efforts to reopen the land route from Medan City to Aceh Tamiang. “Several heavy equipment units from the Public Works Department are continuously working to clear debris, mud, and other materials that previously blocked access,” reported Abdul Muhari, Head of the BNPB Data, Information and Disaster Communication Center.
Muhari confirmed that a number of four-wheeled vehicles could cautiously begin to navigate the route to Aceh Tamiang, albeit at restricted speeds. In addition to restoring road access, the BNPB also dispatched vital aid via air to Bandar Pusaka District, Aceh Tamiang. “The types and quantities of goods sent in this phase include 100 packs of ready-to-eat food, 100 hygiene kits, 50 basic necessity packages, 100 blankets, 100 mattresses, and 25 cleaning tools,” Muhari detailed.
Beyond the crucial reopening of land access, PLN (Perusahaan Listrik Negara, the state electricity company) has diligently worked to restore power by deploying generators to key locations in Aceh Tamiang. A primary beneficiary of this effort is the Muda Sedia Regional General Hospital (RSUD) in Aceh Tamiang, which serves as the central healthcare facility for disaster victims.
PLN personnel transported a 66,000-watt generator and emergency lights from Langsa City to Aceh Tamiang, providing a lifeline to the medical staff. “Amidst such difficult conditions, the presence of electricity from PLN is a savior. Without it, many medical procedures simply couldn’t be performed. We are extremely grateful for this rapid response, which has truly ensured patient safety,” remarked Andika Putra, Director of RSUD Muda Sedia Aceh Tamiang, on Thursday, December 4th. Not only the hospital, but the Tamiang Sport Center evacuation post also had its electricity restored by PLN on Thursday, December 4th, facilitating crucial evacuation processes, logistical distribution, and resident data collection.
To ensure access to clean water, PLN also operationalized a 33,000-watt generator, delivered from Binjai, for the Aceh Tamiang water utility (PDAM), successfully normalizing the community’s clean water supply on Thursday, December 4th. Furthermore, PLN is providing a 100,000-watt generator, currently in transit from Banda Aceh aboard the Polri’s (Indonesian National Police) KP Wisanggeni vessel.
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Reporter Saddam Husein in Aceh Tamiang contributed to this article.
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Summary
Flash floods devastated Aceh Tamiang Regency on November 26th, severely impacting Lintang Bawah and Sukajadi villages with widespread destruction. Survivors endured days on rooftops without food or water, as no aid reached isolated areas for up to nine days, leading to widespread looting for supplies. The disaster resulted in a tragic death toll of 48 and 18 injuries by December 6th, with many homes destroyed and hundreds of families left homeless.
Days after the floods, the government began reopening land routes to Aceh Tamiang on December 2nd and dispatched vital aid by air. State electricity company PLN actively restored power to critical facilities like the Muda Sedia Hospital and evacuation posts using generators. PLN also ensured the normalization of the clean water supply for the community by providing a generator to the local water utility.