A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the coast of Simeulue Island in Indonesia’s Aceh province on Thursday, adding fresh disaster shockwaves to a region already ravaged by flooding, landslides and a rare tropical cyclone.

The quake, recorded at a shallow depth of 25 kilometres, did not trigger a tsunami alert. The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed there was “no threat” of a tsunami following the tremor.

However, the tremor struck as the island—and wider Sumatra—battled a cascade of natural disasters. Torrential rains, linked to the tropical cyclone Cyclone Senyar, triggered widespread floods and landslides, particularly in North Sumatra and Aceh provinces.

Local disaster agencies report at least 28 people killed by floods and landslides, with dozens missing and damage to roads and infrastructure hampering rescue efforts.

In North Sumatra alone, floodwaters overflowed rivers and triggered mudslides in multiple districts. Entire villages were submerged or destroyed, forcing evacuations and leaving thousands displaced.

The national disaster agency reported that roads, bridges and communication lines have been severed in many areas, making ground rescue operations nearly impossible. In some zones, helicopters have become the only viable means of delivering emergency aid and evacuating stranded civilians.

Local officials warned that the convergence of extreme weather, quake aftershocks, and structural instability has left communities in a fragile, unpredictable state.

Meteorologists say Cyclone Senyar—only the third tropical cyclone of the 2025 North Indian Ocean season—originated as a low-pressure system east of Aceh before tracking westward across the Strait of Malacca toward Sumatra early this week.

Though tropical cyclones rarely strike so close to the equator, climate experts point to shifting climate patterns and warmer seas as contributing factors to this unseasonal storm. The cyclone brought days of relentless rain, strong winds, and high seas, significantly increasing flood and landslide risks across coastal and mountainous regions of Sumatra.

Indonesia’s national and provincial disaster agencies have declared several districts under official emergency status, mobilizing rescue teams, deploying heavy equipment to clear debris, and urging residents in risk zones to relocate.

With roads cut off and telecommunications down in many areas, officials say recovery and relief efforts will be complex and may take days or even weeks. Aid distribution is being coordinated via helicopters in severely isolated areas.

Authorities have also issued fresh warnings that more heavy rainfall and possible aftershocks may worsen the situation — increasing the risk of new landslides or further flooding. (ILKHA)