Flood Victims in Tapanuli Sumatera Facing Clean Water Shortage
Flood victims in South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatera Province are facing severe shortages of clean water. In response to this crisis, residents of Garoga Village, South Tapanuli Regency have attempted to dig wells as deep as 40 metres, but have been unable to find clean water sources.
Garoga Village Chief Risman Rambe stated that the clean water sources that had previously been plentiful in Garoga were destroyed by flash floods and landslides that struck 53 districts and municipalities across Aceh, North Sumatera, and West Sumatera in late November 2025. “We have already made efforts through communal work to dig the earth, but we have not yet obtained a clean water source,” said Risman on Monday 9 March 2026.
Garoga Village has a population of 245 households, all of whom became victims of the flash floods that struck the village in November 2025. They are currently living in temporary shelters after their homes were completely destroyed by the floods.
The flash floods and landslides affected 53 districts and municipalities across Aceh, North Sumatera, and West Sumatera in late November 2025. This Sumatera disaster resulted in 1,204 deaths and 104 people still reported missing as of February 2026. Garoga Village was among the worst-affected areas.
Risman Rambe stated that Garoga residents have been receiving clean water assistance from the government, which has supplied water tanks at three locations. However, these three water tanks are insufficient to meet the clean water needs of Garoga residents.
South Tapanuli Regent Gus Irawan Pasaribu said that clean water needs for flood victims are currently being met through fire department water trucks belonging to the district as a temporary measure whilst waiting for the completion of boreholes at the temporary shelter locations.
Beyond clean water issues, Garoga residents are also struggling to find employment. Most of them work as farmers, but they have lost their agricultural land due to the flash floods. A total of 54 hectares of paddy fields in Garoga were destroyed, along with more than 50 hectares of residents’ gardens that were severely damaged.
“The government has not yet replaced residents’ agricultural land,” said Risman Rambe.
Risman, a flood victim himself, stated that residents are still living in temporary shelters because the permanent housing promised by the government has not yet been constructed. The government has set aside land in Nepa Village covering 15 hectares for the construction of permanent housing for flood victims in Garoga.
“We continue to coordinate with local government on this matter. Currently I am meeting with the Regional Secretary of South Tapanuli Regency,” said Risman.
Basarin Yunus Tanjung, Government and Public Welfare Assistant of the North Sumatera Provincial Government and Chair of the North Sumatera Emergency Disaster Response Task Force, stated that local government has already designated several locations for the construction of permanent and temporary housing based on field verification results. The purpose of verification is to ensure that the land used is legal and suitable for house construction.
Several temporary and permanent housing locations for flood victims in South Tapanuli are located in plantation areas belonging to State Plantation Company (PTPN) in Batang Toru District, Napa Village, Simarpinggan Football Field in South Angkola District, and Aek Latong Hamlet in Marsada Village, Sipirok District.
Basarin acknowledged that the construction of permanent housing for flood victims has not yet commenced because the local government is still preparing the land. The land to be used for permanent housing is not owned by the local government.
“Therefore, land must still be sought from third parties, whether privately owned or central government assets. Everything is still waiting for the land provision process,” said Basarin.
He claimed that the North Sumatera government is optimistic that the construction of 1,103 permanent housing units in South Tapanuli, Central Tapanuli, North Tapanuli, and Sibolga City can begin soon, although it is still waiting for the land provision process to be completed.