Medan. Severe floods and landslides across the Indonesian island of Sumatra have left at least 62 people dead and displaced thousands of residents over the past three days, according to updated figures released by local authorities on Thursday.

The worst impact has been recorded in North Sumatra, which reported 37 fatalities. The hardest-hit areas include:

• South Tapanuli — 17 dead
• Sibolga — 8
• Central Tapanuli — 4
• Humbang Hasundutan — 4
• Pakpak Bharat — 2
• South Nias — 1
• Padangsidimpuan — 1

In West Sumatra, 12 more deaths were confirmed, including four in Sungai Minturun, Padang, where overflowing river currents carried mud and uprooted logs into surrounding neighborhoods, said Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

In Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh, flash floods and landslides have struck several districts since Wednesday, leaving 13 people dead and 12 others missing. The head of the Bener Meriah Communications and Information Agency, Ilham Abdi, said communication networks are down and electricity has been cut across most affected areas.

“The situation in Bener Meriah is very alarming. Communication is down, the power is out, and several areas are inaccessible. We are still trying to reach all disaster locations,” Ilham told state radio RRI on Thursday.

Persistent Floods
Floodwaters in Medan and Deli Serdang remained high as of Thursday morning, with the Deli and Belawan rivers continuing to overflow, submerging residential areas under nearly three meters of water in some locations.

Combined rescue teams are still conducting large-scale evacuations, as many residents remain trapped inside their homes. Flooded roads have left hundreds of vehicles stalled, especially after motorists attempted to drive through high water.

Emergency personnel from the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), National Search and Rescue Agency, military, and police evacuated residents using inflatable boats in Medan Maimun, one of the worst-affected districts located along the Deli River.

In Sei Mati, about 300 families have already evacuated as water levels continue to rise. Children and elderly people are being prioritized for relocation to temporary shelters.

Rescue operations are also underway in several other districts across Medan, while Deli Serdang’s Helvetia village in Sunggal faces similar conditions, with homes inundated by up to two meters of water, forcing residents to take shelter in nearby mosques.

Local resident Anto said his home began flooding at 8:00 a.m. with ankle-deep water, but levels rose to nearly two meters by late afternoon, destroying furniture.

“What we need most are food, clean water, and clothing. No assistance has arrived yet. We hope the government comes soon,” he said.

Floods also reached Jalan Kapten Sumarsono, where one meter of water caused hundreds of motorbikes to stall, forcing residents to push their vehicles to safety.

Residents in Medan and Deli Serdang are hoping the rain stops soon so the floodwaters can recede and they can return home. Local disaster agencies have not yet released official figures on the total number of displaced people, but thousands of houses are believed to be underwater and hundreds of families have evacuated.