Jakarta, Dec. 15 -- Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq stated that his office found degraded river headwaters and indications of forest and land encroachment for palm oil plantations and illegal mining during a visit to Aceh.

In a statement in Jakarta on Monday, Nurofiq said he observed severe land degradation, with exposed river basin headwaters, unnaturally widened river channels, and landslides directly threatening residential areas instead of supporting healthy ecosystems.

He explained that the situation demonstrates that the flash flood tragedy in East Aceh is not simply a natural event, but a strong signal of serious pressure on the environment's carrying capacity due to illegal activities.

"We came not just to observe, bu...