# Simeulue Regency

Simeulue Regency (Indonesian: Kabupaten Simeulue) is a regency in the Aceh special region of Indonesia. It occupies the whole island of Simeulue (Pulau Simeulue), 150 km off the west coast of Sumatra, which with its many small offshore islands covers a land area of 1,838.1 square kilometres (709.69 square miles). It had a population of 80,674 at the 2010 census and 92,865 at the 2020 census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 97,118 (comprising 49,780 males and 47,338 females).
With its isolated geographic location and its linguistic difference from mainland Aceh, Simeulue has not been affected by the turmoil of conflicts in mainland Aceh between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM, Acehnese: Geurakan Acèh Meurdèka / Gěrakan Aceh Měrdeka). There has been no major GAM activity on the island.

## Administration

Simeulue was originally a part of West Aceh Regency but was split off on 4 October 1999 to become its own regency with the hope that the island's development would improve. The seat of the regency is the town of Sinabang, situated on a bay (Laut Sinabang) on the northeast coast of the island.
The island was badly affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and the subsequent tsunami, whose epicentre was directly north of the island, and between the island and the mainland of Sumatra.
The regency was divided at 2010 into eight districts (kecamatan), but two additional districts (Teupah Tengah and Simeulue Cut) were created in 2012. All are listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census and 2020 census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2023. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages (kampong) and the number of offshore islands (of which just two are inhabited) in each district, and its post code.
| Kode Wilayah | Name of District (kecamatan) | Area in km$^2$ | Pop'n census 2010 | Pop'n census 2020 | Pop'n estimate mid 2023 | Admin centre | No. of villages | No. of offshore islands | Post code |
| 11.09.07 | Teupah Selatan (South Teupah) | 222.24 | 8,422 | 9,030 | 9,444 | Labuhan Bajau | 19 | 33 $^{(a)}$ | 23898 |
| 11.09.04 | Simeulue Timur (East Simeulue) | 175.97 | 28,931 | 27,569 | 28,830 | Sinabang | 17 | 46 $^{(b)}$ | 23891 |
| 11.09.03 | Teupah Barat (West Teupah) | 146.73 | 7,269 | 8,011 | 8,378 | Salur | 18 | 5 $^{(c)}$ | 23897 |
| 11.09.09 | Teupah Tengah (Central Teupah) | 83.70 | $^{(d)}$ | 6,593 | 6,895 | Lasikin | 12 | 2 | 23899 |
| 11.09.01 | Simeulue Tengah (Central Simeulue) | 112.48 | 9,010 | 7,312 | 7,647 | Kampung Aie | 16 | 0 | 23894 |
| 11.09.05 | Teluk Dalam (Dalam Bay) | 224.68 | 4,914 | 5,459 | 5,709 | Salare-e | 10 | 24 | 23890 |
| 11.09.10 | Simeulue Cut | 35.40 | $^{(e)}$ | 3,382 | 3,537 | Kuta Padang | 8 | 1 | 23895 |
| 11.09.02 | Salang | 198.96 | 7,625 | 8,818 | 9,222 | Nasreuhe | 16 | 1 | 23896 |
| 11.09.06 | Simeulue Barat (West Simeulue) | 446.07 | 10,024 | 11,763 | 12,302 | Sibigo | 14 | 23 | 23892 |
| 11.09.08 | Alafan | 191.87 | 4,479 | 4,928 | 5,154 | Langi | 8 | 12 | 23893 |
| | Totals | 1,838.10 | 80,674 | 92,865 | 97,118 | Sinabang | 138 | 147 | |
Notes: (a) including Lasia Island and Batu Island to the southeast of Simeuleu. (b) of which the island of Pulau Siumat is inhabited. (c) of which the island of Pulau Teupah is inhabited. (d) The 2010 population of the Teupah Tengah District is included in the figure for the Simeulue Timur District, from which it was cut out in 2012. (e) The 2010 population of the Simeulue Cut District is included in the figure for the Simeulue Tengah District, from which it was cut out in 2012.

### Villages

Administrative villages (kampong) listed for each district:
| District | Villages |
| Teupah Selatan | Alus Alus, Ana Ao, Badegong, Batu Ralang, Blang Sebel, Kebun Baru, Labuhan Bajau, Labuhan Bakti, Labuhan Jaya, Lataling, Latiung, Pasir Tinggi, Pulau Bangkalak (Pulau Bengkalak), Seuneubok, Suak Lamatan, Trans Baru, Trans Jernge, Trans Meranti (Trans Maranti), Ulul Mayang (Manyang) |
| Simeulue Timur | Air Dingin, Air Pinang, Amaiteng Mulia, Ameria Bahagia, Ganting, Kota Batu, Kuala Makmur, Linggi, Lugu, Pulau Siumat, Sefoyan, Sinabang, Suak Buluh, Suka Jaya, Suka Karya, Suka Maju, Ujung Tinggi |
| Teupah Barat | Angkeo, Awe Kecil, Awe Seubal, Bunon, Inor, Laayon, Lantik, Laubang (Leubang), Leubang Hulu, Maudil, Naibos, Nancala, Pulau Teupah, Salur, Salur Lasengalu, Salur Latun, Silengas, Sital |
| Teupah Tengah | Abail, Batu-Batu, Busung Indah, Kahad (Kahat), Labuah, Lanting, Lasikin, Matanurung (Matan Urung), Nancawa, Simpang Abail, Situbuk, Sua-Sua |
| Simeulue Tengah | Dihit, Kampung Aie, Kuta Baru (Kuta Batu), Lakubang, Lamayang, Lambaya, Latitik, Lauree (Laure-e), Leuke (Lauke), Luan Sorip, Putra Jaya, Sebbe, Situfa Jaya, Suak Baru, Wel Wel, Wellang Kum (Wel Langkom) |
| Teluk Dalam | Babussalam, Bulu Hadik, Gunung Putih, Kuala Bakti, Kuala Baru, Luan Balu, Lugu Sek Bahak (Sebahak), Muara Aman, Sambai (Sambay), Tanjung Raya |
| Simeulue Cut | Amarabu, Borengan, Bubuhan, Kuta Inang, Kuta Padang, Latak Ayah, Sibuluh, Ujung Pandang / Padang |
| Salang | Along (Along Jaya), Bunga, Ganang Pusako, Jaya Baru, Karya Bakti, Kenangan Jaya, Lalla Bahagia, Meunafa (Meunafah), Mutiara, Nasreuhe, Padang Unoi, Panton Lawe, Suak Manang, Tameng, Tamon Jaya (Tamon), Ujung Salang |
| Simeulue Barat | Amabaan, Babul Makmur, Batu Ragi, Lamamek, Layabaung, Lhok Bikhau (Lhok Bikhao), Lhok Makmur, Malasin, Miteum, Sanggiran, Sembilan, Sigulai, Sinar Bahagia, Ujung Harapan |
| Alafan | Lafakha, Lamerem, Langi, Lewak, Lhok Dalam, Lhok Pauh (Lhok Paoh), Lubuk Baik, Serafon |

## Demographics

The people of Simeulue are similar to the people in the neighboring Nias Island, speaking 3 languages (Devayan, Sigulai and Leukon) which are distinctly different from the languages spoken in mainland Aceh. The vast majority (99.7% in 2020) of the people of Simeulue are Muslim.

## Earthquakes

Simeulue was close to the epicenter of the 9.3 magnitude 26 December 2004 earthquake, but loss of life was surprisingly low, mainly because the people are familiar with earthquakes and tsunamis in this seismically active region and so knew to leave the coast after the earthquake. A major earthquake and tsunami hit Simeulue in 1907, killing many of its inhabitants. Many died when they rushed to the beach after seeing the water recede, exposing the coral and fish. They went to collect the fish, not realizing that the water would come back. Those who survived told the story of the 1907 semong, the local word for tsunami, to their children. It is largely because of this oral history that many in Simeulue say that they knew what to do when the 26 December 2004 earthquake and tsunami struck. In the fishing village of Kariya Vhapi on the NW shore of Simuelue, the 26 December 2004 tsunami was approximately 2 m high when it went through the village completely destroying all buildings.
On 28 March 2005 an 8.7 magnitude stuck with its epicenter just off the south end of Simeulue Island. During the earthquake, Simeulue rose at least six feet on the western coast; this left the flat top of its coral reefs above high tide level leaving it dry and dead. On the east coast, the land was submerged, seawater flooding fields and settlements. At the village of Kariya Vhapi the 28 March 2005 tsunami was smaller than the one the previous December and did not damage the village; however it did overtop a 3.2 m high beach berm. In Sinabang the 28 March 2005 earthquake and subsequent fire destroyed 50 to 60 percent of the downtown area and significantly damaged the port facility. At Sinabang the uplift was less than further north being only 40 cm.
On 20 February 2008 at 03:08 PM local time, Simeulue suffered a 7.4 magnitude earthquake.
On 11 April 2012 at 04:38 PM local time, Simeulue suffered an 8.6 magnitude earthquake.

## Environment

Much of the north-western half of the island has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. It contains forested hills up to an elevation of 576 m, as well as two freshwater lakes. The Simeulue scops-owl is endemic to the island.