Tragedy in Sumatra: Residents Survive on Rooftops for 24 Hours

Throughout her life, this is the first time Dian Utami and the community in Gang Damai, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra, have faced the worst flood. The flood nearly completely engulfed their houses, leaving only the roofs as a place to take refuge.

"Throughout our time living here, floods occasionally come, but never as severe as this," said Dian Utami (37), a resident of Gang Damai, Friday (28/11/2025).

The rain that fell throughout Wednesday caused the flooding to become uncontrollable. On Thursday (27/11/2025) in the early morning, the flood entered the house. Seeing the water level continue to rise, Dian briefly went outside to move her vehicle out of the village.

Apparently, the water continued to rise until it covered chairs, tables, and various furnishings. Dian was informed by her husband, who was trapped in the house, that the water had reached the walls of their home, touching the ceiling.

Panic can no longer be concealed. Dian attempted to contact her friends, but none were reachable. "We are all truly panicking. Family members are still trapped on the roof of the house. Additionally, many small children in Gang Damai need to be evacuated immediately, but not a single contact number can be reached," she stated.

Likewise, the North Sumatra Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) call center number, which was widely circulated among the public, received no response. He later learned that communications had been cut off in the area.

Due to the failure to make contact via telephone, he then visited the North Sumatra BPBD office, which is only 300 meters from their settlement. However, the officers there did not respond either. "They said they were lacking equipment and evacuation personnel," he stated.

Throughout Thursday, around 100 residents took refuge on the roofs of their homes. Water flowed rapidly beneath them, posing a threat to their safety if they attempted to navigate through the flood.

On Thursday evening until night, the parents grew increasingly anxious. The small children cried from hunger. "Until nightfall, not a single aid arrived to assist the residents," he said again.

It wasn't until early Friday morning that the water level gradually receded. Residents decided to help each other with the self-evacuation.

In several areas of Medan City and Deli Serdang Regency, flooding remains concerning as of Friday afternoon. Furthermore, the water level (TMA) around the Sumatera 02 Sei Wampu Dam has doubled. The TMA, which is usually below 8 meters, has now reached nearly 16 meters.

"The community is in a panic. Moreover, announcements have been made in the mosques urging residents to prepare in case the dam's floodgates break," said Deni, a resident of Lalang Village, Sunggal District, Deli Serdang.

The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reported 105 fatalities due to natural disasters in North Sumatra and West Sumatra as of Friday at 12:00 PM WIB. For the casualties in Aceh, officials are still conducting further assessments. Nearly 2,000 personnel have been deployed for the disaster evacuation process in the three affected areas.

In North Sumatra, based on data from the Medan and Nias Search and Rescue Offices, 83 people have been reported dead and 81 others are still missing. The highest number of fatalities occurred in Central Tapanuli, with 34 people, and in Sibolga, with 30 people, while 677 individuals have been successfully evacuated.

Basarnas Head Mohammad Syafii stated that the search for missing victims and evacuation of residents is ongoing. Various equipment is being used, including helicopters, excavators, rubber boats, and surveillance drones. Nearly 2,000 personnel are involved in the search and rescue (SAR) efforts across the three provinces.

However, everything is carried out with a high degree of caution. The reason is that the rainfall and river water levels are still high, while access roads remain blocked by debris. In light of this, he recommends that various parties minimize the risks.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is expected to carry out weather modification in relation to the high levels of rainfall. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works is expected to assist in clearing access roads that are blocked by landslide materials.