Deforestation and Disasters: The Aftermath of Flash Floods in Indonesia's Sumatra

• Prize
  Gold in Press/Nature/Environmental
• Photographer
  Garry Lotulung, Indonesia
• Date of Photograph
  December 2025
• Studio
  Freelance Photojournalist
• Website
  https://garrylotulung.com/
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/garrylotulung

The massive Senyar cyclone that hit Sumatra in November, causing heavy rains, floods, & landslides that displaced 3.3 million people, killed over 1,000, & left hundreds missing. The damage has made it difficult for response teams to reach villages & deliver aid, worsening residents’ suffering. Logs, swept by deadly flash floods, became destructive, highlighting how deforestation intensified the cyclone's impact. Nearly a month after the disaster, people across Sumatra remain displaced. Floods have damaged roads & bridges, cut off villages, & caused widespread mud, debris, & power outages.