Sumatra Flood Victims Borrow Money to Rebuild Homes Amid Anxiety at Evacuation Shelters
Some residents who fell victim to the flash floods in Huta Godang village, South Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra, have begun rebuilding their homes independently without government assistance.
A resident of Huta Godang village, Jusni (50), said on Wednesday that he had chosen to repair his own home after it was devastated by flash floods at the end of November 2025.
"The house was quite badly damaged — the roof and walls were gone," Jusni told Antara on Wednesday (18 February).
Jusni said that nearly three months after the flash flood disaster, he and his family had been sheltering in an emergency tent and now felt increasingly uncomfortable there.
For that reason, he opted to repair his flood-damaged home so that his family could return to living there.
"Of course there's anxiety — so my children and wife still go to the evacuation shelter when it rains," Jusni said.
He also admitted to borrowing money from relatives to repair his damaged house so it could be inhabited as soon as possible.
Besides Jusni, another resident named Monang has also been repairing his own home. After the government repaired the flow of the Anggoli River, he said he immediately set about fixing his house.
"Hopefully after the repairs, there won't be any more disasters. We want to live as we did before," Monang said.
A number of residents in Huta Godang village, Batang Toru subdistrict, South Tapanuli regency, have now begun repairing and reoccupying their homes that were submerged during the flash floods in November 2025.
In addition to repairing existing homes, residents are also attempting to rebuild their houses using makeshift materials such as wooden planks.
A resident of Huta Godang village, Jusni (50), said on Wednesday that he had chosen to repair his own home after it was devastated by flash floods at the end of November 2025.
"The house was quite badly damaged — the roof and walls were gone," Jusni told Antara on Wednesday (18 February).
Jusni said that nearly three months after the flash flood disaster, he and his family had been sheltering in an emergency tent and now felt increasingly uncomfortable there.
For that reason, he opted to repair his flood-damaged home so that his family could return to living there.
"Of course there's anxiety — so my children and wife still go to the evacuation shelter when it rains," Jusni said.
He also admitted to borrowing money from relatives to repair his damaged house so it could be inhabited as soon as possible.
Besides Jusni, another resident named Monang has also been repairing his own home. After the government repaired the flow of the Anggoli River, he said he immediately set about fixing his house.
"Hopefully after the repairs, there won't be any more disasters. We want to live as we did before," Monang said.
A number of residents in Huta Godang village, Batang Toru subdistrict, South Tapanuli regency, have now begun repairing and reoccupying their homes that were submerged during the flash floods in November 2025.
In addition to repairing existing homes, residents are also attempting to rebuild their houses using makeshift materials such as wooden planks.