National

Flooded Simalungun Road Turns into 'Giant Pool', Submerging Minibus

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 18, 2026•3 min read

A viral road in Simalungun turned into a 'giant pool', nearly submerging a minibus with students on its roof, prompting a BPBD inspection and an IJD proposal.

Key Facts

Jalan Lintas Nagori Raja Maligas I, Kecamatan Huta Bayu Raja, Kabupaten Simalungun, Sumatera Utara, viral di media sosial setelah dokumentasi genangan air setinggi lutut hingga paha orang dewasa beredar pada 17-18 Oktober 2026.
Sebuah angkot biru terendam hampir setengah bodi di tengah genangan air coklat berlumpur; lima hingga enam pelajar berseragam oranye terpaksa duduk di atap angkot.
Sejumlah pengendara motor mengalami mati mesin di tengah genangan dan harus menuntun kendaraannya dibantu warga sekitar.
Kondisi jalan rusak parah dan drainase tidak berfungsi disebut sudah berlangsung bertahun-tahun tanpa perbaikan serius.
Bupati Simalungun Dr. H. Anton Achmad Saragih memerintahkan Kepala BPBD Simalungun Budiman Silalahi meninjau langsung ruas jalan tersebut pada Jumat (16/10/2026).
Dinas PUTR Kabupaten Simalungun menyebut ruas jalan itu telah diusulkan melalui program Instruksi Presiden Jalan Daerah (IJD) dan menjadi prioritas penanganan.

Minibus Nearly Submerged, Students Sit on Roof

The alarming condition of a road in the Raja Maligas area, Huta Bayu Raja District, Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra, has gone viral on social media. The road is no longer just damaged; it has turned into a giant pool that nearly submerges vehicles attempting to pass through.

Documentation circulating from Saturday (10/17/2026) to Sunday (10/18/2026) shows a blue public minivan or minibus (angkot) submerged almost halfway up its body in muddy brown water. Several students inside the vehicle were forced to sit on its roof to avoid getting wet.

Floods reaching knee-to-thigh depth covered the entire road surface. Several motorcyclists experienced engine stalls amidst the floodwaters and had to push their vehicles with help from local residents. Other onlookers could only watch in despair, afraid to cross.

Damaged for Years, Drainage Non-Functional

Residents stated that this severely damaged road condition has persisted for years without serious repairs from the local government. The drainage system is non-functional, and there is no proper road paving, even though the area is densely populated and serves as an agricultural economic center.

The main regency connecting road is described as a vital artery for the region's economy and education. Every time it rains, the road instantly turns into a mud lake. Road users, especially schoolchildren commuting by motorcycle, frequently plunge into potholes concealed by the murky floodwaters.

Farmers transporting harvested crops, school students, teachers, and daily commuters traveling the route are among the victims. Daily activities have been paralyzed, and commuters' safety remains compromised.

Regent Directs BPBD Inspection, Road Proposed via IJD

Responding to the viral video of the road, the Regent of Simalungun, Dr. H. Anton Achmad Saragih, ordered the Head of the Simalungun Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD - Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah), Budiman Silalahi, to inspect the road section connecting Huta Bayu Raja District and Bosar Maligas District, specifically in Raja Maligas I Nagori (village), on Friday (10/16/2026).

Budiman emphasized that the inspection was carried out to follow up on the Regent's directive so that the damaged road—reportedly triggered by heavy rainfall—could be assessed directly in the field. He noted that the damage impacts transportation, residents' daily activities, agricultural produce distribution, and the local economy.

According to information from the Simalungun Regency Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (Dinas PUTR - Pekerjaan Umum dan Tata Ruang), the road section has been submitted through the Regional Road Presidential Instruction (IJD - Instruksi Presiden Jalan Daerah) program and prioritized for reconstruction. The Simalungun Regency Government (Pemkab) hopes the proposal will receive immediate follow-up so that road repairs can be realized.