Illegal Mine Accused Of Being The Cause Of The Sumatra Flood, Deputy Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources Says This

Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Yuliot Tanjung (Photo: Doc. VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has opened its voice regarding floods and landslides in Sumatra and Aceh which are accused of being caused by illegal mining activities.

Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Yuliot Tanjung said, actually issues related to mining without a permit are under the authority of the Forest Area Control Task Force (PKH Task Force). Meanwhile, the PKH Task Force Team is currently mapping illegal mining activities that occur throughout Indonesia.

"What is related to illegal, there is the PKH Task Force. The PKH Task Force has already gone to the field and it is mapping in the field," said Yuliot to the media crew, Friday, November 28.

Yuliot said that if later there was a discovery by the PKH Task Force regarding mining without a permit, the government would take action against violations committed.

On the other hand, mining companies are also required to have a permit and fulfill obligations for post-mining reclamation and so on.

"This is for the company's obligations, if the person concerned does not have a permit, yes, it means that this activity is illegal, there is a fine given to the company concerned," said Yuliot.

According to VOI records, the number of victims of the hydrometeorological disaster that hit Aceh as of Thursday, November 27, 2025, reached 22 people who reportedly died due to floods and landslides that occurred in a number of districts/cities.

Data from the Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBA) noted that the most fatalities came from Central Aceh Regency with 15 people dying. Followed by North Aceh four people, Bener Meriah one person, and Southeast Aceh two people.

In addition to the death toll, this disaster also had a major impact on the population. A total of 119,988 people or 3,817 families were affected by floods and landslides, while 20,759 people (6,998 families) were forced to flee to safer locations.

Meanwhile, 47 people died due to hydrometeorological disasters hit 13 district/city levels in North Sumatra (North Sumatra) in recent days.

"To this day, a total of 123 victims have been found, of whom 47 have died," said Head of the North Sumatra Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Tuahtah Ramajaya Saragih in Medan, Thursday, November 27, as reported by ANTARA.

Meanwhile, 9 victims, he continued, were still missing, and 67 more victims suffered serious injuries or minor injuries due to flash floods and landslides in North Sumatra.