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Decades of forest loss hit home: Future cyclones could batter Indonesia harder, analysts warn
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An aerial view shows a damaged area hit by deadly flash floods in Palembayan, West Sumatra province, on Nov 30.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Cyclone Senyar triggered floods/landslides in Sumatra, killing 700+ and displacing a million, revealing vulnerability from deforestation.
- Sumatra lost more than 9 million ha of forest (1990-2024), largely due to oil palm expansion; illegal logging exacerbates the flood risk.
- President Subianto pledged aid, but analysts urge land-use reform, forest protection, and stronger law enforcement to prevent future disasters.
AI generated
JAKARTA – Whole villages vanished almost overnight when Cyclone Senyar veered towards the Malacca Strait in late November
Families were trapped in mudslides, homes swept away and rivers overflowed into communities.
