The past few days have been heavy for Indonesia. Massive flash floods swept across 13 regions in West Sumatra, leaving communities struggling and the local economy disrupted. Tourism took a direct hit. Main roads were blocked or broken, landslides cut off access, and entire routes vanished under mud. Even so, airports and trains kept running.
The provincial government acted quickly. It set a 14-day emergency response period from 25 November to 8 December 2025. The decision came after officials confirmed that all 13 regencies and cities had been affected.
As explained by West Sumatra Provincial Secretary Arry Yuswandi, “With 13 regencies and cities in West Sumatra affected by flash floods, this situation provides a strong basis for the provincial government to declare a disaster emergency status at the provincial level. It is effective from 25 November to 8 December, or 14 days, and this decision may be extended according to emergency handling needs in the field.”
Those 13 affected areas include Padang Pariaman Regency, Padang City, Tanah Datar, Agam, Pesisir Selatan, Solok Regency, Pariaman City, West Pasaman, Bukittinggi City, Solok City, Padang Panjang, Limapuluh Kota, and Pasaman. Each location faced its own challenges as the water swept through houses, streets, and public facilities.
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Despite everything, Minangkabau International Airport kept operating. The airport posted on Instagram that flights were running normally, though travelers were warned to arrive early because the roads leading to the airport were clogged with traffic.
Travel through Lembah Anai became even more difficult. This key road connects the airport to several regencies and links Padang with Bukittinggi. Antara reported landslides at two points in Lembah Anai on Thursday.
At the same time, galodo flooded the national road from Padang to Padang Panjang. The worst part was near the entrance to Padang Panjang City, Tanah Datar, and the Twin Bridges toward Lembah Anai. A video shared by @bpbd_tanah_datar showed mud, stones, soil, and tree branches covering the route. Nothing could pass.
Airlines stepped in to help travelers. The Lion Group, which oversees Lion Air, Wings Air, Batik Air, Super Air Jet, Batik Air Malaysia, and Thai Lion Air, announced on Instagram that passengers who could not reach the airport due to the flood could cancel or reschedule their flights for free.
Train services also began stabilizing. PT Kereta Api Indonesia Regional Division II West Sumatra shared that trips were back to normal as of Friday (28/11) and running on schedule. The day before, extreme weather had caused disruptions and ticket cancellations.
The disaster also forced several events to be postponed. The Bukittinggi Tourism Office announced that the Minang Geopark Run 2025 has been delayed without a new date. The Minangkabau Charm Festival, which was supposed to take place on 4–6 December 2025 at Istano Basa Pagaruyung, has also been postponed indefinitely.
The Ministry of Tourism confirmed it had received reports from three flood-affected provinces: North Sumatra, Aceh, and West Sumatra. Coordination with relevant authorities is ongoing to ensure fast disaster response across all impacted areas.
Travelers were reminded to stay alert. Widiyanti urged the public to monitor extreme weather updates and follow official instructions from BMKG, BNPB, local governments, and other authorities before and during their trips.
