Flash Flood Survivors in South Tapanuli Have First Sahur of Ramadan in Emergency Tents

Tapsel, North Sumatra (ANTARA) — A number of flash flood survivors in South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, had their first pre-dawn meal (sahur) of the holy month of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah in emergency tents alongside their families.

An ANTARA correspondent reported in the early hours of Thursday that several flash flood survivors were seen arriving at the communal kitchen at the Disaster Command Post in Batu Hula Village, Batang Toru District, South Tapanuli.

They brought food containers to collect rice and side dishes provided by the communal kitchen at the evacuation site.

In addition to using the communal kitchen, flash flood survivors from Huta Godang and Garoga villages in Batang Toru District also cooked in their respective tents.

One flash flood survivor, Marlan Hutauruk, said that this sahur was very different from pre-dawn meals before the disaster struck.

He said the flash floods that occurred at the end of November 2025 had levelled his home, forcing him to observe Ramadan at the evacuation site.

“Previously it was certainly more comfortable because we were in our own home. Now our circumstances are like this,” he said whilst having sahur with his wife and other residents at the evacuation post.

A similar sentiment was expressed by Khoiruddin Simatupang, another flash flood survivor currently occupying an emergency tent in Batu Hula Village, who must observe Ramadan at the displacement site.

He admitted to missing the atmosphere of Ramadan and having sahur at home, as everything in the emergency tents must be taken as it comes.

“This is our first day of Ramadan in the evacuation camp. We have been here for nearly three months since the disaster,” he said.