Indonesia – Thousands of Homes Damaged After Floods in West Sumatra

An estimated 50,000 people have been affected by flooding in Solok City, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia.

Flooding struck after heavy rain that began on 11 January 2021. Indonesia’s meteorological agency BMKG reported 86.4mm of rain in 24 hours to 12 January in the nearby city of Padang, capital of West Sumatra Province.

Rainfall in Indonesia, 11 to 12 January 2021. Image: BMKG

In Solok City, areas of Lubuak Sikarah and Tanjung Harapan were under flood water as deep as 1.5 metres. Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) reported that 9,796 houses had been flooded. Some families have been evacuated although precise figures are not yet known.

As of 13 January the flood waters had started to recede, allowing clean-up operations to begin. However, authorities say many of those affected are still in urgent need of relief supplies including clothing, food, tarpaulin, mattresses and blankets.

Floods in Solok, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia, 12 January 2021. Photo – Solok City BPBD