Teks Eksplanasi Fenomena Alam | Banjir di Sumatera (Bahasa Indonesia Kelas IX)

Summary

In late November to early December 2025, severe flooding and landslides devastated parts of Sumatra, particularly Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. These natural disasters were caused by a combination of extreme weather, including intense rainfall from a cyclonic storm, and environmental degradation, such as deforestation and poor land management. The relentless rainfall, compounded by unstable hillsides and poor soil absorption, led to catastrophic flooding and landslides that destroyed homes, infrastructure, and claimed numerous lives. This disaster highlights how human actions, like environmental neglect, exacerbate the impacts of extreme weather, making prevention and sustainable land management crucial to mitigating future disasters.

Takeaways

• 🌧️ Extreme weather, including heavy rainfall and landslides, severely impacted parts of Sumatra, particularly in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, between late November and early December 2025.
• 🏚️ The disaster caused widespread damage, destroying homes, roads, and public facilities, leaving hundreds to thousands of people affected and many displaced.
• 💔 Thousands lost their homes, and access to basic needs like electricity and communication was cut off.
• 🌪️ The extreme rainfall was triggered by Cyclone Sanyar passing through the Malacca Strait, drastically increasing rainfall levels, with daily rainfall exceeding 300mm in some areas.
• 🌱 Environmental degradation worsened the disaster. Deforestation and land use changes reduced the land's ability to absorb water, causing instability in slopes and increasing the risk of landslides.
• 🏞️ The destruction of forests, especially in the upstream areas of the rivers, made the soil lose its capacity to retain water, allowing water to rush downhill, leading to flooding and landslides.
• 🛑 The region's geography, with steep mountain slopes and settlements located in lowlands and riverbanks, made the impact of floods and landslides even more severe.
• 🌍 The floodwaters carried debris, mud, and trees from the mountains, causing further destruction to infrastructure such as houses, bridges, and roads.
• ⚠️ This disaster highlights that the scale and severity of floods and landslides in Sumatra were not just due to natural causes, but also human activities, such as environmental destruction and poor land management.
• 🔄 Effective disaster prevention requires integrating environmental protection, sustainable land management, and proper governance to reduce the impact of extreme weather events.

Q & A

What was the main cause of the floods and landslides in Sumatra at the end of November and early December 2025?

The floods and landslides were mainly caused by a combination of extreme weather conditions, including heavy rainfall due to a cyclone passing through the Malacca Strait, and environmental damage from deforestation and poor land management.

Which areas in Sumatra were most affected by the disaster?

The most affected areas were Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, where the heavy rains led to floods and landslides.

How did the cyclone affect the rainfall in Sumatra?

The cyclone caused a dramatic increase in rainfall, with some areas receiving more than 300 mm of rain in a day, far exceeding normal rainfall levels and leading to flooding.

What role does deforestation play in exacerbating the floods and landslides?

Deforestation leads to the loss of vegetation, which prevents soil from absorbing rainwater. This causes water to flow rapidly into rivers and on to unstable slopes, increasing the likelihood of landslides and flooding.

How does the geography of Sumatra contribute to the severity of the disaster?

The mountainous terrain of Aceh and West Sumatra, with steep slopes, is particularly vulnerable to landslides during heavy rainfall. Many settlements are located in flood-prone areas, such as riverbanks, which are directly affected by the water flow from the mountains.

What types of infrastructure were damaged by the floods and landslides?

Infrastructure such as houses, roads, bridges, and public facilities were heavily damaged or destroyed by the floods and landslides.

How does human activity worsen the impact of natural disasters like floods and landslides?

Human activities, such as deforestation and poor land management, weaken the natural resilience of the environment, making it less able to absorb heavy rainfall and more prone to disasters like floods and landslides.

What factors combined to make the 2025 Sumatra disaster one of the worst in recent years?

The combination of extreme weather, environmental degradation, and poor land management contributed to the severity of the disaster, making it one of the most destructive and deadly in recent years.

What lessons can be learned from this disaster to prevent similar future events?

The disaster highlights the need for better environmental management, sustainable land use practices, and improved disaster preparedness to reduce the impact of extreme weather events.

How can disaster prevention efforts be improved to address both natural and human-induced factors?

Disaster prevention efforts should focus not only on responding to extreme weather events but also on addressing human-induced factors like deforestation and poor land use management. This includes improving environmental protection, regulating land use, and implementing sustainable development practices.