Flood Impact in Deli Serdang Falls by 94.2%, but Prevention Must Continue

DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - The impact of flooding in Deli Serdang Regency in 2026 has fallen significantly compared with the floods of November 2025. According to data from the Deli Serdang Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), a total of 19,067 people were affected by flooding as of 29 October 2026. This figure was considerably lower than the 330,273 people affected on 27 November 2025.

A comparison of the data shows a decline of approximately 94.2 per cent in the number of people affected. Alongside the reduction in affected residents, there have also been substantial changes in the extent of flooded areas, the number of affected houses, the duration of flooding and water levels.

Head of the Deli Serdang BPBD, H. Mukti Ali Harahap, S.Ag., M.Si., said the decline in flood impacts was a positive sign of the various disaster management and prevention measures continuously implemented by the regional government in partnership with the community. He made the statement in Lubuk Pakam on Friday, 30 October 2026.

According to Mukti, the government must not rely solely on emergency response measures when dealing with floods. Prevention, environmental protection, drainage improvements and stronger community preparedness must be implemented continuously.

"Alhamdulillah, when comparing the floods of 2025 and 2026, we can see a significant reduction in their impact. This is, of course, something to be grateful for. However, this result is no reason for us to become complacent. We must continue to strengthen our risk reduction and preparedness measures, because the threat of flooding remains," Mukti said.

Data Comparison Reveals a Significant Decline in Flood Impact

BPBD data highlight the substantial differences between the floods of November 2025 and October 2026. On 27 November 2025, flooding lasted for approximately 14 days, with water levels reaching around three metres. The situation had far-reaching consequences for residents and residential areas across several parts of the regency.

In November 2025, flooding affected 19 sub-districts and 197 villages. A total of 81,266 houses were affected. The number of affected households reached 100,176, representing 330,273 people in total.

By contrast, the flooding on 29 October 2026 affected eight sub-districts and 16 villages. BPBD recorded 5,403 affected houses, 4,514 affected households and 19,067 affected people. The flooding also lasted considerably less time, at approximately one day. Water levels stood at around 70 centimetres.

These differences show that the impact of flooding in 2026 declined not only in terms of the number of people affected. The flooded areas were also smaller, while the duration of flooding and water levels decreased compared with the previous event.

Nevertheless, this reduction does not mean that the flood threat in Deli Serdang has been eliminated. The regional government must continue implementing risk reduction measures consistently, particularly when heavy rainfall can increase water volumes in rivers and drainage channels.

River Restoration and Drainage Improvements

Mukti explained that river restoration was one of the concrete measures undertaken by the Deli Serdang regional government to reduce flood risks. To date, the government has carried out river restoration works covering a total length of 95,985 metres.

"River restoration is an important measure to improve water flow and increase the capacity of rivers to carry water. So far, restoration works have been carried out over a total length of 95,985 metres. This forms part of our ongoing efforts to reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall," he said.

Through river restoration, the government aims to facilitate water flow while improving rivers' ability to accommodate larger volumes of water. These measures form part of a long-term strategy to reduce the risk of rivers overflowing during heavy rainfall in Deli Serdang.

In addition to river restoration, the Deli Serdang regional government is also carrying out dredging works at a dam in the Medan Krio area. The work is intended to increase water storage capacity and improve water flow, thereby reducing the risk of flooding.

Furthermore, under the GASPEDALSUSUDELI community work programme, the regional government is mobilising residents to address and clean drainage channels. A total of 7,200 metres of drainage channels have been cleaned through the programme to date.

The government is also clearing and cleaning drainage channels in residential areas. These measures are intended to improve water flow, remove obstructions from drainage systems and prevent flooding that could disrupt residents' daily lives.

The various measures demonstrate that effective flood management requires a combination of infrastructure development and maintenance, environmental management and community participation. Functional drainage systems can channel rainwater more effectively, while well-maintained rivers can reduce the risk of flooding when water volumes rise.

Residents Urged to Remain Vigilant

Mukti emphasised that community participation was a decisive factor in the success of flood prevention. Awareness of the need to protect and keep rivers clean, the prohibition on disposing of waste in waterways, and collective efforts to clean drainage channels must be continuously strengthened in residential areas.

"We hope that residents will not rely exclusively on the government to deal with flooding. We need shared awareness and commitment to protect rivers, drainage systems and the environment. The stronger the community's environmental awareness, the greater our ability to reduce disaster risks," he said.

The Lau Simeme Dam is also an important infrastructure measure for flood control. The dam serves to store water and regulate its flow. In doing so, it can help reduce flood risks in the areas under its influence.

Mukti reminded residents not to regard the decline in flood impacts as a reason to lower their guard. Extreme weather conditions and heavy rainfall can still trigger disasters. People must therefore remain alert to environmental conditions and strengthen their preparedness.

"We must not become complacent. Preparedness must remain our top priority. BPBD will continuously strengthen cooperation with all stakeholders, from sub-district and village administrations to the community, so that preventive measures and disaster management can be carried out more quickly and effectively," he stressed.

He also called on residents to use the lessons learned from previous disasters as a foundation for developing comprehensive disaster preparedness. In his view, preparedness must become a shared habit and must not begin only when flooding threatens residential areas.

"We hope that through cooperation between the government, the community and all relevant parties, the risks and impacts of flooding in Deli Serdang can be continuously reduced. Let us protect the environment and strengthen our preparedness. We also pray to Allah SWT that Deli Serdang Regency will always be protected and spared from all kinds of disasters," Mukti concluded.

The decline in flood impacts in Deli Serdang highlights the importance of continuously implementing risk reduction measures, river restoration, drainage improvements and community participation. The regional government and residents must further strengthen their cooperation to ensure that flood control is implemented sustainably.

The success of disaster impact reduction depends not only on infrastructure, but also on how effectively residents recognise risks and respond quickly to threats. Through environmental protection, stronger coordination and improved preparedness, the government and community can work together to safeguard the safety and quality of life of people in Deli Serdang. (IDNC)

REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala

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