OVER 600 DEAD IN INDONESIA SUMATRA FLOODS AS CHRISTIAN VOLUNTEERS RUSH AID WHILE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE LAGS
The death toll from flooding and landslides on Indonesia's Sumatra island has risen to at least 604, with 464 people still missing and 2,600 injured, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency on Monday, December 2, 2025.
More than 1.5 million people have been affected and approximately 570,000 forced from their homes, with many sheltering in public buildings lacking clean water and electricity. North Sumatra Province recorded the highest number of deaths at 283, followed by West Sumatra with 165 fatalities and Aceh Province with 156 deaths.
The floods were triggered by torrential rains last week from tropical storm Senyar, which formed over the Strait of Malacca and brought high speed winds and heavy rainfall. Collapsed bridges, washed out roads, and damaged power infrastructure have complicated rescue and relief efforts across all three provinces.
Indonesian Christian volunteers are rushing aid to residents who say the government has been slow to help. Viktoria, a church worker in the city of Medan whose church and school for impoverished children were flooded, said relief supplies were making slow progress due to weather conditions and destroyed roads.
Viktoria, who uses only one name for security reasons in the predominantly Muslim area, told Worthy News that mobile networks are down in several areas and she cannot reach friends who lost loved ones. "Prayers. Please pray for us," she said when asked what she needs most.
In Central Tapanuli, one of the worst hit districts in North Sumatra, resident Maysanti said relief trucks had not reached her village and people were fighting over instant noodles.
"Everything is gone; our food supplies are running out. Even instant noodles are being fought over now. Our food is gone; we need food and rice. Access to us is completely cut off," she told the BBC.
In Aceh's Pidie Jaya Regency, floodwaters reached rooftop levels. Arini Amalia described the water as "like a tsunami," adding that her grandmother, a lifelong resident, had never seen such devastation. Thousands queued outside a government office Sunday night to charge phones or contact loved ones after authorities installed Starlink internet devices.
Emergency workers from the central government, military, and local disaster agencies have been deployed, but helicopters and motorcycles are often the only way to reach survivors. Some of the worst affected areas can only be reached by air or sea, according to Suharyanto, head of the disaster management agency.
President Prabowo Subianto visited flood hit areas in North Sumatra on Monday, acknowledging that some roads remained inaccessible but saying emergency crews were doing their best. The government announced it was sending 34,000 tons of rice and 6.8 million liters of cooking oil to the three provinces.
However, Alfian, a resident in Banda Aceh, told AFP the government had been "very slow, especially in ensuring basic necessities." Aid groups warned that local markets were running out of essential supplies and prices had tripled already.
Islamic Relief said "Communities across Aceh are at severe risk of food shortages and hunger if supply lines are not reestablished in the next seven days." A shipment of 12 tons of food from the group aboard an Indonesian navy vessel was due to arrive in Aceh on Tuesday.
Viktoria said there were reports of people breaking into shops on Sumatra. Police spokesperson Ferry Walintukan confirmed, "The looting happened before logistical aid arrived."
Across Southeast Asia, the larger storm system has killed more than 1,200 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia. Meteorologists have linked the extreme rainfall to prolonged La Niña conditions strengthening monsoons.
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
Christians scavenging for food while government aid crawls.
Viktoria runs a church and school for impoverished children in Medan.
Her building is flooded.
Her friends lost loved ones she cannot reach because networks are down.
When asked what she needs most, she said prayers.
Not food.
Not water.
Prayers.
That is faith in the middle of disaster.
While Christians volunteer to help, the Indonesian government's response has been pathetically slow.
People are fighting over instant noodles.
Markets have run out of supplies.
Prices have tripled.
Aid groups warn of severe food shortages within seven days.
But President Subianto visits and says crews are "doing their best."
Their best is not good enough when Christians are breaking into shops to survive.
Indonesian Christian volunteers are on the ground doing the work the government should have done immediately.
This is what the Church does.
When governments fail, Christians act.
TAKE ACTION
- Donate directly to Indonesian Christian relief efforts supporting church workers like Viktoria providing emergency aid to flood victims in Medan and surrounding areas. Contact Worthy Ministries for direct assistance to affected Christian communities.
- Worthy Ministries: www.worthyministries.com
- Donate: https://www.worthyministries.com/donate
- Support Samaritan's Purse Indonesia flood relief providing emergency food, clean water, shelter materials, and medical care to hundreds of thousands displaced by flooding across Sumatra's three provinces.
- Samaritan's Purse: www.samaritanspurse.org
- Indonesia Relief: 1 800 528 1980
- Fund World Vision emergency response delivering immediate humanitarian assistance including food packages, clean water, hygiene supplies, and temporary shelter to affected families in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh.
- World Vision: www.worldvision.org
- Emergency Relief: info@worldvision.org
- Pray for Indonesian Christians like Viktoria and her church community facing flooding while continuing to serve impoverished children and neighbors. Pray for provision, safety, restored communications, and strength to continue ministry during crisis.
