A Disaster Survivor's Story: A Three-Day Walk Through Isolation

After three days of walking from the isolated city of Sibolga due to flash floods and landslides, Desinta Hutabarat (30) and her sister, Septiana, finally arrived in the Adiankoting District, North Tapanuli Regency, on Sunday (30/11/2025). They were able to reach the disaster area by traversing forest paths, navigating through mud, enduring rain, and enduring hunger along the way.

"The situation in Sibolga and Central Tapanuli is already chaotic. There is no one selling rice, fish, eggs, or any food at all. Several stalls and minimarkets have been looted by residents," said Desinta.

Desinta walked from the city of Sibolga to search for basic necessities and meet her family. Her t-shirt and shorts, as well as her feet and hands, were covered in mud. She carried food supplies and clothing in two backpacks. The flip-flops she was wearing were lost somewhere along the way.

Desinta left her mother, father, and younger sibling in the city of Sibolga. Their rice stock is nearly depleted. They also do not know the situation outside the city of Sibolga because communication access from that area has been completely cut off. Electricity has also been out since the flash flood and landslide disaster occurred on Tuesday (24/11).

Desinta decided to walk towards North Tapanuli since Thursday morning. She walked with around 30 people from the city of Sibolga.

After hiking for several hours from the coastal area of Sibolga to the mountainous region of Tapanuli, they encountered dozens of landslide points along the Tarutung-Sibolga road. In several locations, the road had also collapsed. People immediately scattered in search of their own paths.

Some chose to navigate through the mud piles. Meanwhile, Desinta opted to enter the forest to avoid the mud. When night fell, Desinta and several others remained on the road at the edge of the forest. They were exhausted, so they decided to sleep on the asphalt. They continued their journey the following morning.

On Friday morning, Desinta continued her journey. By chance, she encountered her sister, Septina Hutabarat (42), who had come from the direction of North Tapanuli to inquire about their parents and younger siblings. "After I informed her that our parents and siblings were safe from the flash flood and landslide, we decided to head towards North Tapanuli to look for food," said Desinta.

On the road, they only had makeshift biscuits to eat. They were finally able to have rice after encountering a communal kitchen in the isolated village they passed through. In the following nights, they were also allowed to sleep on the porches of the villagers' houses.

Desinta is a migrant in the city of Batam. She happened to be returning to her hometown during the flash floods and landslides. Initially, they stayed in Sibolga waiting for assistance. However, after several days of seeing the roads remain closed, power outages, and no access to communication, they chose to walk in search of help.

Relatives are anxiously awaiting news of their family members in the city of Sibolga and Central Tapanuli. "I do not know the whereabouts of my parents and siblings. Therefore, I have also decided to walk to Sibolga," said Septiana, who is a farmer in North Tapanuli.

Septiana also walked from North Tapanuli since Thursday. She traversed forest paths along with several others who also wanted to meet their families trapped in Sibolga and Central Tapanuli. She wore a t-shirt, long pants, and flip-flops that she carried for most of the journey.

Septiana, along with other residents, also slept on the asphalt several times due to exhaustion. They were unable to traverse the road that was blocked by a landslide. She felt relieved after finally being able to meet her brother and learn that their parents had survived the disaster. They decided to walk towards North Tapanuli in order to obtain essential supplies.

Another resident, Charli Simorangkir (50), walked for two days from Tapanuli Tengah to arrive in Tapanuli Utara. He walked with five of his colleagues, who are also construction workers. They are residents of Tapanuli Utara who were working in Tapanuli Tengah when the disaster occurred.

"Initially, we held on because we still had a stock of rice. After our last rice supply ran out, we thought we had to leave the area quickly. In Central Tapanuli, people are already fighting over rice. There are several minimarkets that have been looted to take rice and other essential goods," said Charli.

Another resident, Edi Lumban Tobing (60), walked from North Tapanuli to Central Tapanuli. He carried a sack of rice while his younger brother brought a box of instant noodles and cooking oil. They were on their way to meet their parents in the Sitahuis District, Central Tapanuli.

Initially, we managed to hold on because we still had a stock of rice. After our last rice supply ran out, we thought we had to leave the area quickly.

A family had previously walked to North Tapanuli to convey the news that their family was safe from the disaster. However, their stock of basic necessities was also dwindling. The communities in those isolated villages were consuming cassava and taro tubers from their fields.

Edi had to walk from morning until night to reach the Sitahuis Subdistrict. They brought essential supplies because they were concerned that their parents would run out of food.

The Head of the National Disaster Management Agency, Suharyanto, stated that the government is currently focused on opening land routes to the regions of Central Tapanuli, South Tapanuli, and the City of Sibolga.

The opening of the road to the area is being expedited to facilitate the delivery of essential supplies, evacuate victims, and conduct disaster response efforts. Suharyanto stated that the government is also sending assistance via air using helicopters from the Air Force, the National Police, the National Disaster Management Agency, and other institutions.

"In North Sumatra, 166 people have been reported dead and 143 others are declared missing. The highest number of victims is in Central Tapanuli, South Tapanuli, and the city of Sibolga," said Suharyanto.

Throughout Saturday to Sunday, said Suharyanto, the joint search and rescue team successfully evacuated more than 60 deceased victims in North Sumatra. Thousands of residents are also still displaced in various areas due to damaged settlements and disrupted access.

As of Sunday evening, road access to the disaster areas of Central Tapanuli, South Tapanuli, and Sibolga City was still completely cut off.

"There are still about 30 kilometers of road that cannot be traversed due to landslides. In several places, the road has also subsided," said Indra Kurnia, Head of the Operations and Maintenance Working Unit of the Sumatera II River Basin Organization.

Joint officers have opened the road from Kilometer 14 to Kilometer 36. However, landslide and flash flood materials, in the form of mud and tree trunks, are still piled up in dozens of other locations.

Kompas reported that several excavators were used to clear access to Km 36. This was the worst-hit area of the landslide. Mud and tree trunks piled up four meters high along the 300-meter stretch. Residents seeking assistance waded through the heavy equipment.

The disaster survivors hope they can find their families and receive immediate assistance. Hopefully…