FAJAR.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Flash floods and landslides that hit Aceh, West Sumatra and North Sumatra have caused extraordinary damage. Hundreds of lives were lost, also destroying the animals’ habitat and killing them.

Continuous heavy rains for several days caused rivers to overflow and hills to collapse. Hundreds of villages were flooded and vital infrastructure was cut off.

According to several environmental and forestry experts, the flash flood at the end of November 2025 is not in reality an isolated event. Experts even consider this phenomenon to be part of a recurring pattern of hydrometeorological disasters that have increased over the past two decades. A combination of natural factors and human activities play a role.

However, Ferdiansyah expressed a different opinion. The MPR RI Golkar Party Fraction Secretary reminded the public not to be careless in concluding that natural disasters occurring in a number of areas in Sumatra were solely caused by illegal logging practices.

This was conveyed by Ferdiansyah in response to stories circulating on social media and in public space that the disasters in Aceh, West Sumatra and North Sumatra were a direct impact of massive illegal logging.

“We need to look at all aspects. So do not immediately judge that the natural disaster in Sumatra was only caused by one factor. It needs to be explored whether it is only due to environmental issues or whether there are other aspects, including the community’s understanding of the importance of forest conversion which must be carried out carefully,” Ferdiansyah said in his statement, after the MPR RI Golkar Party faction workshop in Kuta, Bali, Monday (01/12/2025).