BMKG Reveals Solok Flash Floods Triggered by Continuous Heavy Rain

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has confirmed that the flash floods that struck Solok Regency, West Sumatra, on Monday night, 21 September 2026, were triggered by heavy rainfall with an intensity reaching 94 millimetres per day.

Acting Deputy for Meteorology at BMKG, Andri Ramadhani, stated that the continuous heavy rain in the area caused water to overflow, leading to flash floods that impacted numerous residents. “The rain occurring around Solok is classified as heavy based on BMKG records, at 94 mm per day, which triggered the flash flood event on Monday night around 11:00 WIB,” he said during a press conference on Tuesday, 22 September 2026.

Andri emphasised that BMKG had issued phased early warnings, ranging from seven-day and three-day outlooks to short-term extreme weather alerts, prior to the disaster occurring.

Although most parts of Indonesia are currently experiencing the dry season, daily weather dynamics in non-ZOM regions—or areas with local climate patterns such as West Sumatra—still hold the potential for extreme weather formation.

In addition to Sumatra, BMKG has urged the public in parts of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua to remain vigilant regarding the potential for heavy rain over the coming week. Extra caution is specifically called for in northern and western Sumatra, including Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, which are currently in a weather transition phase. Residents are advised to monitor real-time early warning updates through official BMKG channels.

“Our monitoring shows that in the coming week, several regions need to be watched, particularly parts of Sumatra—this time in West Sumatra—as well as parts of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua. It is important to remain alert as we are currently in a transition from the dry season, as dry conditions still persist in several regions, particularly north of the equator,” he emphasised.

The Solok Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) previously reported that four residents sustained injuries due to the flash floods that hit several areas in Arosuka, Gunung Talang District, on Monday night, 21 September 2026. Three of the injured are receiving treatment at Arosuka Regional Hospital, while one victim has been referred to a hospital in Padang.