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Flooding in Aceh Spurs Warnings as Severe Weather Threatens

Floods up to 1.5 meters deep have affected 350 households in Aceh Tamiang, as forecasters warn of heavy rain, landslides and dangerous seas across Aceh.

By matthew jonathan

November 15, 20263 min read

Flooding in Aceh Spurs Warnings as Severe Weather Threatens

PANGKALPINANG, Indonesia — Flooding in Indonesia’s Aceh province has affected hundreds of households, while forecasts of severe rain and high waves threaten further disruption across the region and its coastal waters. Tito Karnavian, who leads the government’s post-disaster recovery task force, urged local officials on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, to prepare for worsening conditions without alarming residents.

Floodwater from the Tamiang River has reached 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) in Balai village, Aceh Tamiang regency, affecting 350 households since Thursday, Nov. 12. The water is expected to remain for as long as four more days. Flooding has also reached temporary housing in Tanjung Semantok and Bukit Rata villages, where water levels were 30 to 40 centimeters (12 to 16 inches).

The warning followed a bulletin issued Saturday, Nov. 14, by Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG). It identified Tropical Cyclone Seed 92B in the Bay of Bengal and Tropical Cyclone Seed 96S in the Indian Ocean west of Sumatra, systems that could contribute to increased rainfall during the rainy season. An active Kelvin wave over Aceh, shifting winds and humidity of up to 100% were also supporting rain-cloud development, BMKG said.

BMKG forecast heavy to very heavy rain in Aceh Tamiang, Southeast Aceh, East Aceh, Gayo Lues, Aceh Singkil, Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, Bireuen, Nagan Raya and Subulussalam. Moderate rain was forecast for Aceh Barat, Southwest Aceh, Aceh Besar, Aceh Jaya, South Aceh, North Aceh, Banda Aceh, Langsa, Pidie, Pidie Jaya and Simeulue. The agency warned that downpours could bring thunderstorms, strong winds, flash floods and landslides.

Coastal conditions also pose a hazard. Waves of 1.25 to 2.5 meters were possible off southern Simeulue, Aceh Singkil and the Banyak Islands, between Aceh Besar and Meulaboh, between Sabang and Banda Aceh, and off Southwest Aceh toward Simeulue. Waves of 2.5 to 4 meters were forecast for the Indian Ocean west of Aceh.

Karnavian asked regents and mayors in vulnerable areas to coordinate preparedness with provincial disaster agencies, fire services, health facilities and logistics providers, including the state-owned logistics agency Bulog. “Inform the regents and mayors in potentially affected areas, as well as provincial disaster agencies, fire departments, health facilities and logistics providers/Bulog, to be on standby without causing commotion or public anxiety,” he said.

A task force team led by Dr. Imran, a senior official at Indonesia’s Ministry of Home Affairs, inspected the flooded communities on Saturday. Aceh Tamiang Regent Armia Pahmi and the task force distributed emergency supplies intended to cover families’ needs for seven days. The local government said it was preparing to declare an emergency response if flooding spread.

Authorities are also planning a retention reservoir, river dredging and repairs to the Marlempang embankment in coordination with Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works and the regional river-basin agency. Residents were urged to watch for rising water levels.

The latest flooding follows heavy rain in Pidie Jaya regency earlier in November. Karnavian visited on Nov. 3 after flooding affected 21 villages and 4,500 households, damaging roads, schools and embankments. He called for the Ministry of Public Works to build permanent flood-control embankments and proposed river normalization at 137 sites across Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, with work carried out alongside third-party contractors to speed recovery.

“We continue to work as hard as possible, including in Pidie Jaya. When I received information yesterday that Pidie Jaya had been hit by flooding again, I set off immediately,” Karnavian said.