Indonesia Faces Recurring Floods, Urging A National Rethink Of Resilience

By: Firda Nurussalamah

    Indonesia was once again reminded that natural disasters are not merely seasonal threats, but an undeniable reality in the lives of its people. Heavy rainfall beginning on 20 December triggered flooding in several regions of West Nusa Tenggara, particularly in Bima Regency. The latest report from the National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) shows that areas such as Belo, Ngali, and Runggu were among the worst affected. Homes, farmland, and local economic activities were brought to a halt as floodwaters submerged residential areas.

    This tragedy feels ironic. While many people were preparing to welcome the year-end holidays, thousands of residents instead had to rescue their belongings, find temporary shelter, and begin rebuilding their lives from scratch. The fact that disasters like this continue to recur illustrates how vulnerable many regions still are due to limited mitigation systems, both in terms of infrastructure and community preparedness.

    This raises an even more important question: how prepared are we, as a nation, to face disasters that strike again and again?
The floods in West Nusa Tenggara are not isolated events. They are part of an increasingly frequent pattern linked to climate change and environmental vulnerability. For communities living in high-risk areas, coexisting with the threat of flooding has become an annual cycle that is difficult to escape. This cycle erodes not only property, but also hope and the future of the younger generation.

    For that reason, disaster management must not stop at the emergency phase alone, such as evacuation, public kitchens, or distributing aid. What is urgently needed is a long-term preparedness system, including:

• improving and reorganizing drainage systems
• strengthening spatial planning control in disaster-prone zones
• expanding community-based disaster education
• protecting supporting ecosystems such as forests and water-retention areas

    Without systematic and sustained efforts, communities will remain trapped in the same disaster loop year after year.

    In addition, the psychological and social impacts must not be overlooked. Children lose access to education, adults lose their livelihoods, and the trauma of losing homes and a sense of safety is not always visible on the surface. When media attention fades, affected residents often continue to struggle quietly to rebuild their lives.

    In the end, the floods that struck on 22 December 2025 serve as a stark reminder that resilience is not only about surviving, but also about reforming and rebuilding better systems. Government, communities, educators, and volunteers must work hand-in-hand to build a genuine culture of preparedness. In doing so, Indonesia will not merely respond to disasters once they occur, but will be ready to face them from the outset.

    If this commitment can be realized earnestly, perhaps one day floods will no longer be remembered as annual disasters, but instead as a story of our shared success in building a nation that is more resilient and truly cares for its people.

Source: https://www.bnpb.go.id/berita/perkembangan-situasi-dan-penanganan-bencana-di-tanah-air-22-desember-2025?