Agam Flood: 450 Residents Evacuate, 60 Trapped

A severe flood in Agam, West Sumatra, has forced 450 residents to seek shelter and left 60 individuals trapped by the strong water currents. The deluge, which hit Nagari Sungai Batang in Tanjung Raya District on Saturday night, followed intense rainfall that overwhelmed local rivers.

Abdul Ghafur, head of the Emergency and Logistics Division at the Agam Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), stated that the 450 displaced residents are staying with relatives in safer locations. The 60 trapped individuals, comprising 20 households, have either evacuated themselves or are being assisted by a joint team from BPBD, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Red Cross (PMI), police, and the military.

In Jorong Labuah, approximately 250 residents were displaced after 20 homes were inundated with water reaching about 70 centimeters deep. The flooding in both areas is attributed to the high volume of rainfall from Saturday afternoon into the night, causing the Batang Tumayo river to overflow its banks and flood nearby residential areas.

Abdul Ghafur noted that this is a recurring issue, exacerbated by river silting that occurred after a previous flash flood in late 2025. Despite the disruption, no fatalities have been reported. The floodwaters have begun to recede, allowing some residents to return home. However, the BPBD urges continued vigilance, advising residents to evacuate promptly during periods of heavy rainfall.