Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – Wet paddy was spread out on blue tarps along the road connecting Lhoksumawe city to North Aceh Regency, Sumatra, on Wednesday afternoon, December 3, 2025, as residents tried to dry their crops after the deadly floods that hit at the end of November.

It is not only paddy that lines the roadside. Mattresses, clothes, and household items displaced by the floodwaters are also spread out to dry.

Dust-covered cars and motorcycles remain parked along the 36-kilometer stretch, while some schoolyards and mosques are still partially submerged, a reminder of the recent devastation.

Life is gradually returning. In Panton Labu Market, Tambo Aye District, North Aceh, convenience stores reopened on Wednesday, drawing residents eager to buy essentials despite the muddy streets.

Employees at electronics and furniture shops were busy cleaning their goods, while grocery stalls saw a steady stream of customers.

The recent floods have caused a sharp spike in the prices of basic necessities across Aceh, leaving residents struggling to afford essential food items.

"I came out to buy chili and salted fish because there's no aid yet," said Uki Syauqi, a resident of Batang Raya, who traveled six kilometers on his motorcycle. He bought just a quarter kilogram of chili for Rp25,000.

"During the flood, the price reached Rp200,000 per kilogram. Now it's down to Rp100,000, but it's still expensive," he added.

The floods and landslides that struck at the end of November swept through Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, leaving widespread destruction and hundreds of casualties.

According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), as of Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 16:14 WIB (Western Indonesia Time), 812 people had died.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2070647/aceh-sees-soaring-food-prices-amid-devastating-flood