NORTH ACEH FLOODS HIT EVERYTHING

Major flooding has hit nearly all areas of North Aceh Regency after heavy rains fell over the past week. From Wednesday, November 26th to Saturday, November 30th, 2025, water levels continued to rise and inundate residential areas in several sub-districts, forcing thousands of families to evacuate. This flooding is one of the worst in recent years. Almost all road access was reportedly cut off, and vehicles were impassable due to water levels reaching over one meter in some areas. Community activities, including economic and educational services, were completely paralyzed. Furthermore, the flooding also caused power outages in various areas due to damage to distribution networks. Meanwhile, telecommunications networks were lost in several sub-districts, making it difficult for residents to make emergency communications. Several sub-districts, including Tanah Jambo Aye, Matakuli, Pirak Timu, Lhoksukon, Tanah Besar, Langkahan, and Samudra, were among the most affected. Thousands of residents whose homes were submerged chose to evacuate to safer places such as meunasah (small mosques), schools, government buildings, and even relatives' homes. Seeing the worsening conditions, the North Aceh Regency Government officially declared a flood emergency on Friday evening, October 29, 2025. This emergency status was declared to expedite response, mobilize aid, and facilitate cross-agency coordination. The North Aceh Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) reported that a joint team of Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), Indonesian National Police (Polri), volunteers, and village officials continued to evacuate residents still in dangerous locations. Distribution of logistical aid, such as ready-to-eat meals, blankets, and medicine, has also begun to be distributed to evacuation points. At the time of this report, floodwaters in some areas were beginning to recede. The North Aceh Regency Government urged the public to remain vigilant and prioritize the safety of themselves and their families while waiting for weather conditions to improve and for further aid to arrive.