Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Extreme weather has severely impacted the Tapanuli Tengah Regency in North Sumatra, triggering widespread floods and landslides over the past few days. Regent of Tapanuli Tengah, Masinton Pasaribu, confirmed that the precarious situation has resulted in the region losing both its electricity and internet connections.
According to Masinton, Tapanuli Tengah is currently facing an isolated status. "Access to networks, internet connection, telephone, and electricity are also cut off," Masinton stated when contacted on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
In addition to the paralyzed communication and electrical infrastructure, Masinton emphasized that routes to and from Central Tapanuli Tengah are obstructed due to the extensive landslides. He reported that at least 57 landslide points had been documented around Tapanuli Tengah Regency and Sibolga City as of Thursday morning.
Masinton confirmed that the extreme weather, which includes substantial rain and wind, persists in his jurisdiction. This Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle politician added that the land route originating from Tapanuli Utara, specifically the road connecting Tarutung and Sibolga, has been rendered impassable by multiple landslides.
Furthermore, the access road extending from Pakkat, Humbang Hasandutan to Barus, Tapanuli Tengah is also buried by landslides. "Then access from Batang Toru, Tapanuli Selatan is also affected by landslides, and the bridge is cut off," he elaborated.
The extreme weather that began impacting North Sumatra on November 25, 2025, has generated floods and landslides across four cities/regencies: Sibolga, Tapanuli Utara, Tapanuli Tengah, and Tapanuli Selatan.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson at the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), indicated that the resulting floodwaters over the last two days flowed intensely and inundated residential properties.
The calamity swept away vehicles and damaged other critical infrastructure in its path. "The water flow also carried materials such as mud, tree trunks, building debris, and household waste," said Abdul in his written statement on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
Data compiled by the North Sumatra Regional Police indicates that four residents in Tapanuli Tengah have died as a direct consequence of this disaster. Concurrently, in Sibolga, five fatalities were reported during the incident.
"Preliminary data on 4 deaths in Tapanuli Tengah, and 5 in Sibolga. In addition, 2,543 households were affected, with 445 of them evacuating, and a number of roads being cut off," announced North Sumatra Regional Police Public Relations Chief, Commissioner Besar Ferry Walintukan, in a written statement on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
– Dian Rahma Fika and Sahat Simatupang contributed to the report