ACEH — The catastrophic flooding that struck Aceh Tamiang and several parts of Sumatra has been described not as an ordinary flood, but as something far more terrifying. Residents call it a “tsunami of logs” — a roaring surge of water carrying massive timber debris that swept through villages and demolished everything in its path.
In Menang Gini village, the devastation tells a grim story. The once lively settlement is now blanketed in wood debris stretching as far as the eye can see. Yet, faith and resilience persist as survivors continue praying, rebuilding and clinging to hope.
Astuti Jone, 30, spoke of the horror of watching her home being destroyed. For days after the disaster, she, her husband and child were completely cut off when flooding and log piles blocked all access routes. They were left with no clean water, forcing them to strain muddy water through cloth just to drink, and surviving on limited food supplies.
Nearby, Dedek Anditia searches through remains of his home, salvaging anything usable. He has since constructed a small temporary shelter using flood-borne timber and a canvas sheet as walls. Another resident, Arianti, admitted she did not expect the situation to escalate this severely, recalling how she returned only to discover her home gone.
Even at evacuation centres, survival was a struggle as food shortages continued. Hunger, exhaustion and uncertainty loomed over families waiting for assistance. In an extreme survival act, Juriah Nasution transported her two-year-old child in a drum while pushing through deep waters to escape.
BNPB confirms the tragedy’s staggering toll — at least 1,059 dead, around 200 unaccounted for and more than 7,000 injured. Humanitarian organisations have mobilised, with teams such as MyCARE and Econsave launching missions to deliver aid to affected communities.