Over a foot of mud (30-40 cm) inside a house on December 6, 2025. Rantau Aceh Tamiang Village. Photo by Andre.
Aceh Tamiang—where the first AVP workshop in Indonesia was held in 2005—was struck by devastating flooding November 18–27, 2025. This is the worst disaster the region has experienced since the 2004 tsunami struck Aceh—one of the most destructive natural disasters worldwide to date. Unfortunately, today conditions again are dire.
A small piece of reassuring news came from Ifau, an AVP facilitator in Aceh Tamiang. Though her situation is still heartbreaking, she is alive! In communication with Petrus, she shared that her house is no longer habitable, as both the building and its contents are buried under mud. “I only have the clothes I’m wearing,” she said. After digging through the mud, she managed to recover only a few additional pieces of clothing. Road damage and piles of debris have severely restricted access, and fuel prices have skyrocketed beyond reach. Tamiang’s entire community was square in the path of the most severe flash flooding in this region’s history.
Friends are reaching out to assist Ifau and the community. Every bit of love, care, and support makes a world of difference at this time. Contributions may be made online or sent to Friends Peace Teams, 1001 Park Ave, St Louis, MO 63104, memo: Indonesia Relief.
Natural and human factors combined to bring about this rare and catastrophic climate event. Tropical Cyclone Senyar brought unprecedented heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds. Global warming of sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean added further energy to the cyclone. This was worsened by massive deforestation and the increasingly aggressive conversion of the Bukit Barisan mountain range into palm oil plantations. The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) reported an expansion of the palm oil plantations by 192 hectares in 2023 alone for a single concession. Bukit Barisan is part of the Gunung Leuser National Park. Illegal logging on a massive scale persists in spite of being one of the last remaining intact tropical rainforests, the lungs of the Earth, and a protected UNESCO Heritage site.
As a result, the flash flood turned deadly and lasted for days. The flood became lethal because logs from illegal or unsustainable cutting were swept along with mud, transforming what might have been a surge of water into a torrent of debris capable of destroying infrastructure and endangering human lives. The flood carved through hillsides and riverbanks, devastating villages along the river, and triggering landslides. Survivors were forced to shelter on rooftops as water levels remained high for at least two days, making evacuation—especially for vulnerable groups—extremely difficult. Many survived with only minimal food and in deeply concerning conditions. Electricity, communication lines, and transport networks all collapsed.
In the aftermath, Aceh Tamiang has been left silent and shattered—without clean water, without daily functioning, and with food extremely difficult to obtain. Damaged infrastructure hinders rescue efforts, as thick mud has buried homes up to adult height. Bodies remain unattended in several areas. There are no functioning health posts, medical workers, clean water sources, community kitchens, or organized relief efforts in the vicinity. As of 7 December 2025, the disaster has claimed 359 lives in Aceh alone. Many more remain missing, and nearly 850,000 people have been displaced.
Read more in-depth analysis and Ruki’s personal reflections on the flooding in Sri Lanka at this link.
On December 8, 2025, some homes in Alur Cucur Village began to clear the mud. Photo by Andre
Residents of Alur Cucur village washing mud-soaked clothes in receding floodwaters. Photo by Andre
The house of Fauziah (Ifau), an AVP facilitator, in Aceh Tamiang was submerged in mud above the height of an adult’s waist. The attic floor collapsed, and the kitchen was destroyed. December 6, 2025. Photo by Fauziah.