"Galodo" in Agam, Two People Dead and One Missing

PADANG, KOMPAS — Flash floods, or galodo floods, hit residential areas in Malalak District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, on Wednesday afternoon (11/26/2025). Two people died and one person is missing, and hundreds of families had to evacuate to various locations.

Galodo struck a residential area in Jorong Toboh, Nagari Malalak Timur, Malalak District, on Wednesday at around 4:30 p.m. WIB. A preliminary report from the Agam Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) stated that two residents were killed and one person is still missing.

"Two deceased victims have been found, but we have not been able to evacuate them. Last night, there was heavy rain and no lighting. Search and rescue operations cannot be conducted at night," said the Head of the Agam District BPBD, Rahmad Lasmono, when contacted from Padang, Thursday (27/11/2025).

Rahmad continued, on Thursday morning, the joint Search and Rescue team from Basarnas, BPBD, and Brimob was working to evacuate the deceased and missing victims. However, heavy rain posed a challenge for the officers in the field.

According to Rahmad, the BPBD officers are still gathering data on the impacts of this flash flood. However, it is currently estimated that around 160 families have been affected. The victims have sought refuge in four evacuation points.

Of the four points, Rahmad stated that only one evacuation point can be reached by the Agam BPBD, namely Masjid Nurul Iman. “The other three points cannot be accessed because the roads are affected by landslides and the bridges are broken,” he said.

Rahmad urged the public to monitor weather information at all times. If the weather is severe, it is better to refrain from traveling and to avoid areas prone to landslides and floods.

Previously, the West Sumatra Provincial Government declared a state of emergency in response to various disasters caused by extreme weather in several regions over the past week. At least 13 areas in West Sumatra have been affected by disasters, ranging from floods, flash floods, landslides, to strong winds.

The emergency response status was established through the Governor's Decree Number 360-761-2025 regarding the Declaration of Emergency Response Status for Natural Disaster Floods, Flash Floods, Landslides, and Strong Winds in the Province of West Sumatra for the year 2025. This decision is effective from November 25 to December 8, 2025, and may be extended.

The West Sumatra Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) recorded that 13 areas were affected by wet hydrometeorological disasters, namely Padang Pariaman, Padang, South Pesisir, Agam, Tanah Datar, Solok Regency, Solok City, Pariaman, West Pasaman, Bukittinggi, Pasaman, Fifty Cities, and Padang Panjang.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned of the potential for extreme weather that could trigger hydrometeorological disasters in West Sumatra. BMKG has identified the presence of tropical cyclone seed 95 B since November 21, 2025, in the eastern waters of the Malacca Strait near Aceh.

This condition has triggered patterns of wind/air mass meetings in West Sumatra, as well as a negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which increases the supply of water vapor and humidity. As a result, the atmosphere has become unstable, leading to the development of thick and extensive rain clouds, causing heavy rainfall with long durations in West Sumatra over the past week.

Based on the developments of the actual atmospheric dynamics, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) urges the public to enhance their vigilance. "The potential for extreme weather is predicted to still occur until November 29, 2025, particularly in the form of heavy to extreme rain that may be accompanied by strong winds in most areas of West Sumatra," said the Head of the Minangkabau Meteorological Station, Desindra Deddy Kurniawan, on Wednesday.

The increase in the potential for early rain growth and the activity of Mount Marapi, according to Desindra, raises the likelihood of extreme weather events that could lead to hydrometeorological disasters in West Sumatra, such as flooding, slippery roads, fallen trees, landslides, flash floods, and lahar floods from Mount Marapi.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has urged the public to continue enhancing their preparedness for the potential hydrometeorological disasters that may occur in the regencies/cities in West Sumatra, including the Mentawai Islands, West Pasaman, Agam, Tanah Datar, Padang Panjang, Padang Pariaman, Pasaman, Padang, South Pesisir, and surrounding areas.

"The community is also urged to always recognize disaster-prone areas, update weather information before engaging in activities, seek safe locations in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall, and always follow the instructions of officials and relevant disaster management agencies," he said.