Residents of Pidie Jaya, Aceh, Displaced Again Due to Flooding

Residents in 13 villages located in the Meureudu and Meurah Dua sub-districts of Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh, have been displaced again after their settlements were hit by flooding due to the collapse of the Krueng Meureudu River embankment on Wednesday (8/4) night. Residents in the two sub-districts have been evacuated to safer locations. The water level was reported to reach up to 1.5 metres. Pidie Jaya Regent Sibral Malaysi stated that all residents along the Krueng Meureudu River have been displaced. “All residents along the Krueng Meureudu River have evacuated to safer places,” Sibral told reporters on Thursday (9/4) in the early hours. He explained that the river embankment collapsed due to the increased water flow after the area was lashed by heavy rain. Additionally, the condition of the embankment, part of which was made from mud following the disaster at the end of 2025, made it unable to withstand the strong river current. “We had built the embankment, but it all collapsed and inundated residents’ settlements with water levels reaching 1.5 metres,” he said. The flooding also submerged the Medan-Banda Aceh national highway, specifically in Meunasah Krueng Village, Meureudu Sub-district. For the time being, both two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles cannot pass through that route. Sibral also requested President Prabowo Subianto, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), and the Disaster Recovery Task Force to immediately address the condition of the Krueng Meureudu River, which has been damaged since the major flood at the end of 2025. According to him, the river crosses Meureudu and Meurah Dua sub-districts, posing a risk of overflowing every time heavy rain occurs and submerging residents’ settlements again. “We request that BNPB, the disaster task force, and the President immediately handle the Krueng Meureudu River. This is very urgent,” he emphasised. Currently, his side is still on alert to anticipate the possibility of rising water levels if rain falls again.