Jakarta (VNA) – Severe flooding has once again hit Indonesia’s West Sumatra province, triggered by extremely heavy rainfall combined with serious damage to upstream areas and drainage systems following devastating floods in late November last year, according to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
Rainfall recorded at the Teluk Bayur Maritime Meteorological Station in Padang city on January 2 exceeded 159 mm, a level classified as extreme. Meanwhile, the Minangkabau Meteorological Station and the West Sumatra Climatology Station, both located in Padang Pariaman district, also recorded very heavy rainfall, approaching the extreme threshold of 150 mm in a single day.
Prolonged heavy rains have caused many rivers across West Sumatra to overflow their banks. In Jorong Pasar Rabaa, Koto Kaciak village, Tanjung Raya district of Agam regency, water levels on the Asam River rose sharply, triggering flash floods on the evening of January 2. As a result, 17 residents were trapped before being safely evacuated by rescue forces.
In Padang city, a main road in the Batu Busuak area of Pauh district was washed away by strong currents from the Batang Kuranji River, leaving a gap of around 15 metres and cutting off traffic entirely. Riverbeds in the area were heavily silted and widened, paralysing two-way traffic. Several other localities, including Saniangbaka, Muaro Pingai and Paninggahan villages in Solok district, were also deeply inundated by flash floods.
In response, the Padang City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has called for the maximum mobilisation of heavy machinery to dredge rivers and stabilise water flows. West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi has instructed relevant agencies to urgently dredge silted river sections to prevent the risk of more serious flooding.
According to the West Sumatra provincial administration, from late November 2025 to January 4, 2026, floods and landslides caused estimated losses of around 31.2 trillion IDR (approximately 1.86 billion USD), directly affecting more than 296,300 people. The disasters claimed 264 lives, left 74 people missing, injured 382 others, and forced over 10,800 residents to evacuate urgently./.
