Asia-Pacific

8 Japanese Nationals Stranded on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island

The Associated Press
Rescuers use rubber boats to search for missing people in a flooded area in Bireun in Aceh Province, Indonesia on Sunday.

By Nobuteru Sakuda / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent

15:31 JST, December 1, 2025

JAKARTA — Eight Japanese nationals have been left stranded as of Monday due to torrential rain that hit Aceh Province on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, according to the Japanese Embassy in Indonesia.

All eight Japanese nationals have been evacuated to a hotel and are in good health, the embassy said and added that it has been able to keep in contact with them. Local authorities are expected to rescue them by helicopter.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Sunday expressed her condolences on X, saying, “I feel deep sorrow for the many precious lives that have been lost” as the death toll from torrential rains rises across countries. She said the government would provide necessary support.