Repeat floods swamp 21 villages in Aceh after embankment bursts

The flood hit Monday night, Nov. 9, after heavy rain hammered the area from the afternoon. An embankment burst and the Krueng Meureudu river swelled, pushing water into 21 villages across four districts in Pidie Jaya regency, Aceh. Depths ranged from 50 centimeters to 1.5 meters. Some residents got trapped inside their homes before joint rescue teams reached them.

Pidie Jaya's disaster agency chief, Okta Handipa, said the second flood looks worse than the first. The culprit, he told reporters, is the rising volume of river water, which burst the levee and sent it straight into residential blocks. Crews are pulling people out by rubber boat, prioritizing the elderly, children and anyone stuck at the deepest points. The agency is still working out exactly how many people have fled their homes.

As of 9:32 p.m. local time, the agency counted five flooded villages in Meureudu district: Beurawang, Mesjid Tuha, Meunasah Lhok, Meunasah Krueng and Meunasah Balek. One more, Meunasah Masjid, went under in Ulim district. Meurah Dua took the heaviest hit with eight villages swamped — Dayah Usen, Pante Beureune, Dayah Kruet, Meunasah Mancang, Meunasah Raya, Beuringen, Meunasah Blang and Meunasah Cut — while seven flooded in Bandar Dua, among them Alue Keutapang, Babah Krueng, Alue Sane, Drieng Tujoh, Alue Me, Uteun Bayu and Blang Kuta.

Officials are warning anyone living along the Krueng Meureudu river to stay on guard. The Pidie Jaya government had already declared a 14-day disaster emergency response period, according to local reports.

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said he traveled to Pidie Jaya days ago to help flood victims and briefed President Prabowo Subianto on the situation. Speaking at the State Palace on Monday, Tito said he would lay out progress from his role leading the task force for accelerating disaster rehabilitation in Sumatra over the past year.