Minister Of Environment: There Are Three Sources That Exacerbated The Sumatra Flood

The condition of the residents' houses that were destroyed by flash floods in Batang Toru District, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra on Friday (28/11/2025). (ANTARA PHOTO/Yudi Manar/foc)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Environment/Head of the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, identified the initial stage of three main sources that exacerbated flooding in South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra (North Sumatra).

"We identified at least three main sources that exacerbated flooding," said Minister Hanif in a statement received in Medan, Saturday.

He explained the three sources, namely industrial plantation forest activities, massive hydroelectric development, and gold mining activities in the Batang Toru watershed (DAS).

"All of this contributes significantly to environmental pressure," he said.

To ensure data-based handling steps, Minister Hanif explained that initial identification was carried out through a combination of direct dangroundcheck air monitoring at a point suspected of increasing the burden of runoff.

The explanation was conveyed by the Minister of Environment to describe the factual conditions upstream of the watershed which are now under high pressure due to various space utilization activities.

In addition, upstream areas are also dominated by a stretch of agricultural land, both dry land and wet land which also affect the ability of the soil to absorb rainwater.

KLH/BPLH are now conducting thorough field verification to ensure all findings can be followed by precise corrective actions.

Minister Hanif emphasized that environmental restoration cannot be done partially, but must view the entire ecosystem as a unit.

He emphasized that the recent extreme rainfall pattern should be a new reference in planning and controlling space utilization.

"All these findings must be assessed in a complete landscape unit, with the intensity of rain which now exceeds 250, even 300 mm, KLH/BPLH will review back all environmental approvals valid at Batang Toru watershed," he said.

In line with that, the KLH/BPLH has tightened supervision of space utilization activities in flood and landslide-prone areas, including two companies that were suddenly inspected in Batang Toru.

Every activity on a steep slope, upstream watershed and river flow is now reverified against environmental permits and spatial suitability. Law enforcement will be taken if violations are found that have the potential to increase disaster risk.

Minister Hanif is still conducting direct field verification of other companies that are indicated to have contributed significantly to environmental pressure, exacerbating floods and landslides in the Sumatra region.