The Death Toll from Flash Floods and Landslides in West Sumatra has Risen to 25

PADANG, KOMPAS - The number of fatalities in the flash flood and landslide disaster in various regions of West Sumatra has increased to 25 people. Bad weather, blocked roads, and the lack of electricity and communication signals have posed challenges for the joint Search and Rescue teams in conducting evacuations on the ground.

"Until now, the post has recorded 25 fatalities and 11 missing persons in the flash flood and landslide disaster in West Sumatra," said the Spokesperson for the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of West Sumatra, Ilham Wahab, on Friday (28/11/2025).

Ilham explained that the details of the 25 deceased victims are 13 individuals in Agam Regency, 5 individuals in Padang City, 6 individuals in Padang Panjang City, and 1 individual in Pasaman Barat. Meanwhile, the 11 missing victims consist of 10 individuals in Agam and 1 individual in Pasaman Barat.

Extreme weather that has struck West Sumatra since November 21 has caused various wet hydrometeorological disasters, including floods, flash floods, landslides, and strong winds in 14 districts/cities in West Sumatra.

"This incident is indeed extraordinary. There are areas that have been affected by flooding, and then, after being cleaned up, they are hit again, with the number of affected points increasing in various sub-districts," said Ilham.

On November 26-27, extreme weather triggered flash floods and landslides in West Sumatra. In Agam, flash floods and landslides struck Nagari Malalak Timur, Malalak District, and Nagari Dalko, Tanjung Raya District, on November 26 and 27, respectively. In Pasaman Barat, a landslide occurred in Nagari Batahan Tengah, Ranah Batahan District, on November 26.

Meanwhile, in Padang, flash floods struck residential areas along the banks of the Lubuk Minturun River in the Koto Tangah District on November 27. In Padang Panjang, flash floods affected the surrounding areas of the Anai Valley in the Silaing Bawah Village, Padang Panjang Barat District, on November 27.

Separately, the Head of the Class A Search and Rescue Office in Padang, Abdul Malik, stated that the joint SAR team is still working to evacuate missing victims at several disaster points, including in the Malalak District. However, extreme weather, blocked access roads due to flooding and landslides, as well as the lack of signal due to power outages pose significant challenges.

"Many access roads to the affected locations are blocked by landslides or submerged in floods. Therefore, vehicles and equipment cannot enter. In some locations, it is possible to enter, but then one cannot exit because the access road becomes cut off," said Abdul Malik.

This incident is indeed extraordinary. There are areas that have been affected by flooding, and then, after being cleaned up, they are hit again, with the number of affected points increasing in various sub-districts.