Jakarta: Indonesia has announced a major review of mining operations in Sumatra after devastating floods and landslides killed about 800 people and left hundreds missing. The government said it will take action against companies that violated environmental rules and contributed to deforestation in the disaster hit areas.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif said authorities are currently examining mining permits in West Sumatra, North Sumatra and Aceh. He said that any proven violations would lead to permit cancellations and legal action.
The disaster followed days of heavy rain linked to a tropical cyclone. Entire villages were washed away and rescuers are still searching for survivors. Fuel shortages, damaged roads and poor weather continue to slow down emergency relief operations.
Environmental groups and local communities say the scale of destruction was worsened by years of forest clearing for mining, palm oil plantations and logging. A monitoring group reported that Sumatra has lost more than 4.4 million hectares of forest in the last two decades. Some areas where the floods occurred include large concessions averaging around 54000 hectares for mining and plantation use.
One of the companies under scrutiny is PT Agincourt Resources, which operates a major gold mine in North Sumatra. The company has rejected claims that its operations contributed to the disaster and said it follows approved environmental rules.
Public anger has grown after images showed large quantities of wood debris carried by floodwaters into residential areas. Many residents blame both legal and illegal land clearing for weakening natural protections such as hill slopes and riverbanks.
Government officials say the investigation will take time. They added that the review will also look at whether existing laws are strong enough to prevent similar disasters in the future.
Relief work continues as communities try to recover. Many survivors are staying in temporary shelters with limited access to food, clean water and medical care.
The government has not provided a final estimate of the damage. However, President Joko Widodo has ordered ministries to coordinate long term rebuilding and promised that disaster affected families will receive support.
The floods have renewed debate about how Indonesia balances environmental protection with its economic development, especially in resource rich provinces.