Heavy Rain Triggers Landslides and Floods in Aceh, Killing 1 - Tempo.co English

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Heavy rain triggered landslides in Central Aceh and widespread flooding in Southeast Aceh on Sunday, September 13, 2026, killing one person, injuring 13 others, and inundating 11 villages, authorities said.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that landslides occurred in four subdistricts in Central Aceh, damaging four houses, including two that were heavily damaged and two that sustained moderate damage.

Mud and landslide debris also covered sections of national, provincial, and regency roads, disrupting access in the affected areas.

Berton Suar Pelita Panjaitan, acting head of the BNPB’s Data, Information and Disaster Communications Center, said the affected subdistricts were Kebayakan, Lut Tawar, Celala, and Silih Nara.

“Personnel are still collecting data and carrying out response efforts in the affected areas,” Berton said in a statement on Monday, September 14.

Landslide debris blocking roads has made it difficult for local residents to travel, Berton said.

The Central Aceh Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has deployed two heavy machines to clear the debris and restore road access.

Berton urged residents to remain alert for possible subsequent landslides, particularly during prolonged periods of heavy rain. The warning applies especially to people living near slopes and cliffs that are vulnerable to landslides.

According to Antara, the person killed in the landslide was nine-year-old Nazila. The 13 injured victims were relatives who had gathered at the home of 74-year-old Aliyah in Sanehen Village, Silih Nara Subdistrict, for a family gathering when the landslide struck.

Meanwhile, the Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBA) reported that flooding affected 11 villages across five subdistricts in Southeast Aceh Regency following heavy rain and rising river levels.

“Due to rain since Sunday afternoon, September 13, 11 villages have been inundated as of today,” BPBA Executive Head Bahron Bakti said in a report in Banda Aceh on Monday, as quoted by Antara.

Bahron said water levels in the Lawe Bulan, Lawe Kisam and Lawe Kinga rivers rose as they could no longer accommodate the increasing runoff from heavy rain. The rivers overflowed into residential areas at around 9:30 p.m. local time on Sunday.

The flash floods carried wood and rocks, while water and mud entered and inundated residents’ homes, Bahron said.

The flooding also damaged two Bailey bridges connecting subdistricts in the area.

The 11 affected villages are spread across Babussalam, Lawe Bulan, Bambel, Deleng Pokhkisen and Lawe Sumur subdistricts.

Authorities have not yet determined the number of residents affected or displaced by the flooding as data collection is still underway. The latest report said floodwaters had begun to recede.

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