Indonesia is preparing to summon eight private companies for explanations after suspicions arose that they contributed to major flooding and landslides in North Sumatra province. Deforestation and ecosystem degradation are believed to have intensified the natural disasters.
Videos and photos showing large quantities of logs in flooded areas have been widely shared online, while environmental groups say this is a direct result of clearing the Batang Toru forest, home to the Tapanuli orangutan and the critically endangered Sumatran tiger.
Indonesia's Environment Minister, Hanif Faisal Nurofik, stated that satellite image analysis revealed that eight companies were linked to changes in forest conditions in the area, prompting urgent investigations. The Ministry of Environment plans to review all environmental permits of companies operating in the three affected provinces.
Meanwhile, environmental group Walhi pointed out that this disaster is not just caused by Tropical Storm Seroja but also by government policies that have allowed widespread deforestation.
Reports indicate that law enforcement officers from the Ministry of Environment are urgently investigating whether the logs found in flooded areas came from illegal logging, if land titles were forged, and whether there is timber trafficking via waterways or illegal timber falsified as legal. Investigations will cover on-site inspections, documents, and financial trails.
The floods have claimed the lives of more than 600 people on Sumatra Island since last week, with hundreds more missing following Tropical Storm Seroja. The Indonesian central government has dispatched warships and military aircraft to deliver relief supplies to flood victims in Sumatra, as many roads remain cut off, making land access impossible in some areas. The Ministry of Public Works is rapidly deploying heavy machinery from construction projects to clear roads and restore infrastructure to facilitate faster rescue and relief operations.
Source:channelnewsasia
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