Desperate Rescue Efforts Underway as Flash Floods Trap Dozens in North Sumatra Forest
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A harrowing situation is unfolding in Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, as approximately 50 residents remain stranded in a forest after being caught in devastating flash floods.The group, including vulnerable individuals such as senior citizens and infants, sought refuge in the woods after floodwaters overwhelmed their village and even a church where they had initially taken shelter.
Villagers Forced to Flee into the Forest
The crisis began when rapidly rising floodwaters inundated Huta Bolon Village in the Tukka District on Tuesday, November 25th, 2025.Residents,initially seeking safety at the banua Niha Keriso Protestant (BNKP) church – chosen for its higher elevation – were forced to abandon even that refuge as the floodwaters surged,submerging homes and the church itself. “The flash flood has blocked everything, it has sunk like the ocean, that’s why we ran up, without bringing anything, we only took our bodies,” recounted one resident, as relayed by a family member.
A video circulating online, captured by one of those trapped, depicts a scene of desperation. Individuals clad in raincoats and makeshift coverings are seen pleading for assistance amidst torrential rain. “Mr. Regent, help us here first, we are already in the middle of this forest, landslides on the left and right, Mr. Regent,there is no way out,” a man can be heard saying in the recording. The pleas are punctuated by the cries of an elderly woman, desperately calling for help.
family Separated, Communication Cut Off
The plight of one family, the Zebuas, highlights the gravity of the situation. Rosmawati Zebua, a resident of Jakarta, has been frantically trying to locate her seven family members – including her mother, siblings, and a baby – who were among those forced to flee into the forest. Rosmawati explained that her family initially evacuated to the BNKP church on Saturday, November 22nd, following warnings from the local disaster management agency (BPBD) about potential landslides.
Rosmawati was able to communicate with her family via video call around 9:30 AM local time on Tuesday, but contact was abruptly lost around 11:00 AM when the area’s telecommunications network failed. “Certainly by now they are hungry, cold and have no food supplies. How can they survive there?” she expressed, her voice filled with anguish. She has since contacted the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) in hopes of initiating a rescue operation.
Initial Warnings ignored the Scale of the Threat
According to Rosmawati, residents underestimated the potential severity of the flooding. While water began entering the village on Tuesday morning, previous incidents had not resulted in widespread inundation. This led to a delayed and incomplete evacuation, with many initially seeking shelter only at the church, rather than attempting to reach higher ground further away from the village.
The situation underscores the challenges of disaster preparedness and the unpredictable nature of extreme weather events.
Urgent Need for Rescue and Aid
As of Wednesday, November 26th, 2025, the fate of those trapped in the forest remains uncertain. The lack of communication and the challenging terrain are hindering rescue efforts. Rosmawati Zebua’s desperate plea encapsulates the urgency of the situation: “My hope is that my family will be rescued from there, at least I will know what the news is like. Just the news alone makes me happy. Yesterday I thought there would be immediate help, but it turns out that until now there hasn’t been any at all and we also don’t know whether they are still there or not up there, I hope the government can help my family.”
