Landslide Hits Batangtoru Area, Two People Die

Heavy rain in the Wek 1 ward, Batangtoru District, South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, from Tuesday afternoon to the evening of 19 May 2026, caused a landslide that struck a residential area. Two residents in the ward were reported buried by landslide debris.

Head of the Medan Search and Rescue Office, Hery Marantika, said the first report of the landslide came from Batangtoru Police Sector Chief Ajun Komisaris Penggar M. Siboro. The information was received by the rescue team and the Danau Toba SAR Post, which immediately went to the site.

This location is also one of the areas affected by floods and landslides in late November 2025.

Hery Marantika said the first victim found was Yasine Gulo, 43. When found, he was deceased and was evacuated to Tapanuli Selatan Hospital.

“The victim was found on Tuesday morning, after a joint SAR team combed the landslide area using manual tools and heavy equipment,” he said on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

Hery said the landslide area was very wide and the ground remained unstable. The search was conducted carefully given the soil’s high moisture following heavy rains, which could trigger secondary landslides.

The second victim was finally found buried in the landslide debris on Wednesday morning. “His name is Sariman Gulo, 25, found dead. The two victims were handed over to their families for burial,” Hery said.

Hery thanked all the joint SAR elements involved in the operation. “All victims have been found, the landslide SAR operation in Batangtoru is officially closed. All involved elements have been returned to their respective units,” he added.