The cracks that remain after the flash floods struck

Flash floods are often understood as a disaster that begins when heavy rain falls and ends when the water recedes. However, for communities in affected areas, the disaster is not necessarily over. In Nagari Ampek Koto, Palembayan District, Agam Regency, cracks remain visible eight months after the catastrophic flash flood on 27 November 2025, which resulted in 115 fatalities. These fissures appear on house walls and floors, village roads, rice paddies, fields, irrigation channels, and roadside cliffs. For residents, these cracks are a constant reminder that the impact of the flood has not truly ended. Many remain anxious whenever heavy rain falls, fearing the cracks might widen or that slopes could collapse again. This concern is well-founded. In soil science and geotechnics, cracking is a key indicator that soil stability has been compromised and requires serious attention.