Indonesia revokes permits of 28 firms after deadly floods

FILE PHOTO: The Angkola Protestant Church (background C) is seen amid flood devastation at Aek Ngadol village, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra province, on Christmas Day December 25, 2025, in the aftermath of massive flooding and landslides in the area. - AMROE/AFP

JAKARTA: Indonesia stripped more than two dozen permits from forestry, mining and hydroelectric companies in Sumatra Tuesday (Jan 20), a government minister said, just weeks after deadly floods devastated parts of the island.

Environmentalists, experts and the government said deforestation played a role in last year's disaster that killed more than 1,000 people across three provinces on the island, according to a National Disaster Mitigation Agency tally.