The True Cause of North Luwu Flash Floods

Illegal logging in the upstream area of rivers was most likely the main reason flash flooding in North Luwu in July 2020. Restoration and mitigation efforts seem to overlook the upstream region.

Didit Haryadi

March 7, 2022

FOR Jefri Samad, the flash floods and landslides in North Luwu, South Sulawesi, on July 13, 2020 that killed 39 people were merely warnings to take a pause. One-and-a-half year afterwards, this blandong—the local term for loggers—is freely offering his services again. “If anyone asks us to work again in January or February, we can go into the woods again,” said Jefri, a resident of Meli village, Baebunta subdistrict in Nor

...

More Articles