[REVISION HISTORY]

Flash floods and recovery in West Sumatra

Updated 9 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-26 09:51 UTC → 2026-09-26 12:32 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In mid-September 2026, heavy rainfall triggered a series of flash floods across West Sumatra, Indonesia. On September 18, flooding from the Aek Koronok and Batang Jember Tonang Raya rivers struck Pasaman Regency, affecting 55 households and damaging agricultural land. On September 21, a severe flash flood, locally known as a ‘galodo’, caused by the overflow of the Batang Barus River struck the Arosuka area in Solok Regency. The disaster impacted approximately 240 residents, damaged between 100 and 150 houses and 11 government offices, and temporarily blocked the Padang-Solok national road. Search and rescue operations, which included the use of K9 units, concluded after the two missing individuals, Dafi Arrahman and Agusral, were confirmed deceased. Following the conclusion of the specialized SAR operation by Basarnas, recovery efforts have shifted toward debris removal and infrastructure repair. On September 23, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited Solok Regency to oversee recovery. He prioritized the removal of mud and debris from residential areas and vital infrastructure, emphasizing the need to restore the agricultural sector, specifically rice and onion production. The Vice President also directed debt restructuring or relief for residents with loans through state-owned banks and instructed officials to replace lost identity documents. Additionally, health officials have called for increased vigilance against potential disease outbreaks, such as diarrhea and skin infections, in the aftermath of the flooding. While reconstruction is underway, the damage to government infrastructure is significant; three buildings, including the local DPRD and PUPR offices, are deemed too unstable for repair and require relocation. Furthermore, environmental group Walhi Sumbar has raised concerns regarding land-use changes and forest cover loss in upstream areas as contributing factors to the disaster's severity. Recovery continues to be hindered by recurring secondary floods and landslides in West Sumatra and neighboring provinces.

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