Garry Lotulung
2025, Aceh Tamiang, Aceh Province, Indonesia.
The Aftermath of Flash Floods in Indonesia’s Sumatra, 2025, Aceh Tamiang, Aceh Province, Indonesia.
No Rainbow After the Rain: Cyclone Senyar in Sumatra and Aceh, Indonesia
There is no rainbow after the rain when Cyclone Senyar struck three Indonesian provinces on Sumatra on November 25, 2025, leaving thousands homeless and hundreds dead. Damage has made it difficult for response teams to reach villages and deliver aid, worsening conditions for residents.
Floods and logs swept by the water added to destruction, showing how deforestation intensified the impact. People across Sumatra remain displaced. Roads and bridges are damaged, villages cut off, with widespread mud, debris, and power outages. Around 70 percent of Sumatra’s watersheds are in critical condition.
The decline in forest cover reduces environmental resilience and carrying capacity. Communities continue to bear the cost of the climate crisis as they wait to rebuild their lives, dignity, and homes.
Deforestation and Disasters: The Aftermath of Flash Floods in Indonesia's Sumatra. 2025, Aceh Tamiang, Aceh Province, Indonesia.
The Aftermath of Flash Floods in Indonesia's Sumatra, December 9, 2025, Tanjung Karang village in Aceh Tamiang Regency.
A drone view shows rescue teams searching for a victim among uprooted trees swept away by a flash flood after heavy rains in Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia, December 9, 2025.
The Aftermath of Flash Floods in Indonesia's Sumatra, December 10, 2025, Tanjung Karang village in Aceh Tamiang Regency.
Flood survivors walk in an area affected by a deadly flash flood after heavy rains in Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia, December 10, 2025.
The Aftermath of Flash Floods in Indonesia's Sumatra, December 10, 2025, Kota Lintang Bawah village in Aceh Tamiang Regency.
A drone view shows an area devastated by a deadly flash flood in Kota Lintang Bawah village, Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia, December 10, 2025.
The Aftermath of Flash Floods in Indonesia's Sumatra, December 9, 2025, Tanjung Karang village in Aceh Tamiang Regency.
A drone view shows rescue teams searching for a victim among uprooted trees swept away by a flash flood after heavy rains in Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia, December 9, 2025.