Recovery of Lake Toba is said to be only 57 percent, administrative achievement is 89 percent

Redevelopment needs to take risk into account

Jumhur linked the need for environmental evaluation to the floods, flash floods and landslides that hit a number of areas of North Sumatra, including Tapanuli, at the end of November 2025.

Quoting BMKG analysis, the KLH/Environmental Management Agency (BPLH) statement said the event was triggered by a combination of Tropical Cyclone Senyar and atmospheric dynamics which produced extreme rain. In the period 25–27 November 2025, daily rainfall was reported to reach 262.2 millimeters in Medan and 229.7 millimeters in Central Tapanuli.

Jumhur reminded that infrastructure repairs after a disaster need to be accompanied by an evaluation of the location and its vulnerability.

"Are we going to rebuild in the same place, with the same vulnerabilities? Or will this event force us to reassess the decisions that have shaped the risks to date?" he said.

He emphasized that evaluation of the causes of disasters must be based on science. Forests help retain rainwater, support infiltration, and maintain soil structure, but cannot eliminate all dangers when rain reaches extreme intensity.

Geological factors, slope, river capacity and settlement location also need to be taken into account. Therefore, risk assessment requires a joint reading of natural conditions, land use changes, and human presence in vulnerable areas.