Teks Eksposisi Bahasa Inggris: Banjir di Sumatra dan Upaya Penanggulangannya

Floods in Sumatra: We Must Act Now

Floods in Sumatra have become a serious and tragic issue, especially during the rainy season. The scale of the disaster in late 2025 shows how severe the situation has become. According to recent reports, floods and landslides across parts of northern and western Sumatra have affected at least 3.2 million people. In terms of human impact, data from national agencies recorded by early December 2025 show over 900 people killed, hundreds still missing, thousands injured, and more than 100,000 houses damaged or destroyed. 

This is not just a “normal” flood, it is a catastrophe that affects the livelihoods, homes, and safety of millions. That is why the issue demands immediate attention, awareness, and sustainable solutions.

One of the main causes of this escalating flood problem in Sumatra is rampant deforestation and environmental degradation in upstream forested areas. Data from recent environmental studies reveal alarming figures: between 2016 and 2025, the combined forest cover lost in just three of the hardest-hit provinces (Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra) reached approximately 1.4 million hectares. In certain regions, such as West Sumatra, experts note that both primary and secondary forest cover have declined dramatically over the last two decades. 

Why does this deforestation worsen floods so drastically? First, when large swathes of forest are removed, the soil loses its natural capacity to absorb and hold rainwater. Trees and vegetation act like a sponge, they soak up rainfall and release it slowly into rivers. Without them, rainwater runs off quickly, rivers overflow, and water collects rapidly in low-lying areas. Second, deforestation often accompanies illegal logging, land conversion (for plantations, mining, or other commercial use), and soil disturbance — all of which degrade the natural “hydrological buffer” of the land, making landslides and flash floods more likely. 

Moreover, another contributing factor is poor waste and water-management practices. In many flooded areas, rivers and drainage channels have been compromised by garbage, sediment, or debris which block water flow. This blockage amplifies flood risk, especially during heavy rain. When heavy rain coincides with such degraded environmental conditions, the result is not just a temporary flood, but a full-blown disaster.

To reduce the impact of floods in Sumatra, the government and society must work together in a consistent and long-term way, not only during the emergency response phase. On the environmental side, experts have repeatedly recommended large-scale reforestation and ecosystem restoration in damaged upstream areas, especially in river basins that frequently overflow. This means not just planting trees symbolically, but restoring natural forest cover, protecting remaining primary forests, and strictly controlling land conversion for plantations, mining, and infrastructure. In addition, the government and local authorities need to improve spatial planning so that housing, roads, and public facilities are not built in high-risk zones such as flood plains or steep slopes that are prone to landslides. At the same time, better water-management systems are urgently needed: drainage networks in cities must be regularly cleaned and upgraded, retention ponds and infiltration areas should be developed to hold excess rainwater, and river normalization should be done carefully without further damaging the ecosystem. 

In conclusion, floods in Sumatra are not just “natural disasters”; they are the result of a combination of extreme weather, environmental damage, and weak management of land and water resources. This tragedy can also become a powerful reminder to change the way we treat the environment and plan our cities and villages. By protecting forests, improving waste and water-management systems, enforcing clear land-use regulations, and educating the public from an early age, Indonesia can reduce the risks of future floods and build more resilient communities in Sumatra and beyond.