World

Floods in Indonesia's Sumatra kill at least 174

By AAP Newswire

Nov 28, 2025

Indonesia floods — Floods and landslides brought on by Tropical Cyclone Senyar have killed 174 people in Indonesia. -AP

The death toll from floods and landslides on the Indonesian island of Sumatra island has risen to 174, up from the previous 94, the country's disaster mitigation agency says.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

The rains caused floods and landslides in three provinces across Sumatra island, forcing nearly 80,000 people to be evacuated with about 80 people still missing, according to Indonesia's disaster agencies.

Emergency crews are racing to reopen blocked roads, restore communications and reach villages that have been cut off since earlier in the week.

The worst losses have occurred in North Sumatra, where the authorities reported 55 deaths and 41 people missing, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

In Batang Toru, where at least 21 have died, residents lifted seven decomposing bodies, wrapped in black plastic, from the back of a truck onto a wide plot of land belonging to a state plantation firm, while an excavator dumped clumps of dirt to bury them in a mass grave.

"We found 21 bodies that were placed in a health centre ... the seven will be buried," said Mara Tinggi, chief of Batang Toru town, which is located in the worst-hit province of North Sumatra.

There is no morgue to store the bodies to wait for loved ones to arrive, residents told Reuters. Many at the health centre, surrounded by felled trees, had to hold their noses because of the stench of the decomposing bodies.

Indonesian authorities are rushing to respond to the worst rains and floods to hit the region in years. The death toll has risen sharply over the last 24 hours, and officials fear it may increase further.

Road access remains minimal and critical infrastructure, including power and communications, has been severely affected, the disaster mitigation agency said.

The agency said the search for the missing continued on Friday. Authorities were working to restore power and clear roads that have been blocked by landslide debris.

In West Sumatra, over 100 people still remain stranded in their homes, awaiting help and aid, said Ilham Wahab, spokesperson for the local search and rescue agency.

Seasonal rains frequently cause flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile flood plains.

with EFE, AP and DPA