The area of Aceh Tamiang was hit the hardest. Survivors of the disaster were forced to navigate to aid centers, overcoming debris from logs and overturned vehicles. Volunteers provided essential assistance, including clean clothing and a water tanker with fresh water for the victims.
Dimas Firmansyah, a 14-year-old student at an Islamic boarding school, shared that the roads were destroyed, and they had to stay at the school for almost a week. He recounted that they took turns searching for food and boiling floodwater for drinking.
Local authorities have appealed to the central government to declare a state of emergency in order to obtain additional resources for rescue operations and assistance to the affected.
Environmental organizations point out that mass deforestation related to mining and other economic activities has exacerbated the consequences of the floods. Authorities have launched an investigation into companies suspected of involvement in deforestation in the affected regions. The Ministry of Environment has suspended the operations of several enterprises until environmental inspections are completed.
In neighboring countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, around 200 people have died as a result of the natural disaster.
