A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Sumatra Island in Indonesia, adding fresh strain to a country already overwhelmed by deadly flash floods and landslides triggered by days of relentless rainfall. The quake, centred near Aceh province at a depth of 10 kilometres, fortunately carries no tsunami risk, and authorities have not yet reported casualties or structural damage. Even so, the timing of the tremor has heightened anxiety among residents and emergency workers who were already stretched thin by ongoing natural disasters.
The earthquake hit just as Indonesia continues to reel from severe flooding brought by Cyclone Senyar, which made landfall on Wednesday. The nonstop rains caused multiple rivers in North Sumatra to overflow, turning entire neighbourhoods into channels of fast-moving water and mud. At least 28 people have been confirmed dead, with many more still missing, and the toll is expected to rise as rescue teams attempt to reach communities cut off by damaged roads, blocked routes, and continuing downpours.
On-ground visuals show houses swallowed by muddy floodwaters, families struggling to escape to higher ground, and streets choked with uprooted trees, boulders, and debris. In Central Tapanuli, landslides destroyed several homes and wiped out entire blocks. In South Tapanuli, falling trees killed eight people, and more than 2,800 residents have been evacuated to makeshift shelters. Nearly 2,000 houses remain underwater across the affected districts.
Indonesia is no stranger to extreme natural hazards. Sitting along the volatile Pacific “Ring of Fire,” it routinely experiences earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and seasonal flooding. The annual monsoon between October and March repeatedly places millions at risk, especially those living near floodplains or in steep hillside settlements prone to landslides. With the soil already saturated and rescue resources stretched across multiple emergencies, the new earthquake—though not destructive—adds another layer of fear to a crisis that is far from over.
