[unofficial translation from Bahasa provided by Business & Human Rights Centre]

"Walhi Sultra: Mud flood in Pomalaa is a proof of ecological crisis caused by nickel industry" 13 November 2025

WALHI Southeast Sulawesi expressed deep regrets and anger from the recent mud flood disaster in Oko and Lamedai villages, Pomalaa district, Kolaka regent. [...]

[...] mud flood caused by large-scale operation of PT Indonesia Pomalaa Industry Park (IPIP) and PT Vale Indonesia Tbk. industrial zone, without any proper environmental standards. Deforestation and sedimentation near the river area caused the river lost its capabilities to contain rain water, which flooded and sunk residential and farmers' crops.

WALHI said that those companies are not being responsible according to the environmental permits. Many commitments are being waived, from the land management and restoring the ecosystem.

For its liabilities, local communities has to bear the impacts. River filled with red sedimentation, destroying farms, and polluting clean water sources. [...]

[...]

WALHI Sultra demands authorities (local and national) to halt all the land opening which violate the permits, evaluate all the environmental permits owned by PT IPIP and PT Vale, and demand for ecosystem's restoration and restitution for community impacted.

[...]