ACEH BESAR — A tree fell across the Banda Aceh–Medan National Highway in Gampong Sibreh Keumudee, Suka Makmur District, Aceh Besar Regency, on Wednesday (5/8/2026). The incident, triggered by light rain accompanied by strong winds, temporarily disrupted the smooth flow of traffic on the main arterial route.
Light Rain Accompanied by Strong Winds
The sudden collapse of the tree blocking intercity access occurred in the late afternoon. According to official information from the Aceh Besar Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the duty officer first received a report of the incident from local residents at 15:10 WIB.
Weather conditions in Suka Makmur District at the time of the event were marked by light rainfall. However, a sudden gust of strong wind compromised the tree's structure, causing it to collapse and block most of the national highway.
"This incident was caused by light intensity rain accompanied by strong winds, resulting in the fallen tree," said the Chief Executive of BPBD Aceh Besar, Ridwan Jamil.
Rapid Response by BPBD Personnel
Upon receiving reports from residents, Aceh Besar BPBD personnel were immediately dispatched to the location in Gampong Sibreh Keumudee. Officers swiftly carried out clearance operations by cutting the tree trunk and branches blocking the road so traffic flow could safely reopen.
The clearing and logging process was carried out promptly by the field team, given that the Banda Aceh–Medan National Highway serves as the primary land transportation artery connecting various regions across Aceh Province. Any obstruction on this route could potentially trigger long vehicle queues if not addressed immediately.
After all tree debris was successfully cleared and removed from the road surface, traffic conditions at the location were reported back to normal and safe for both two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles.
Warning for Road Users
The Aceh Besar BPBD urged the public and road users to remain vigilant when driving amid unpredictable weather conditions. Rain accompanied by strong winds carries the potential to trigger secondary hazards, such as fallen trees along vulnerable routes.
Members of the public are also expected to promptly report any potential hazards or disaster incidents in their surroundings to authorities so that mitigation and prevention measures can be carried out as quickly as possible for public safety.
Reference source: Habanusantara – Strong Winds Topple Tree on Banda Aceh–Medan National Highway, Temporarily Disrupting Traffic
Read this article in Bahasa Indonesia.
