Heavy Rain Will Continue to Hit Sumatra for the Next Three Days

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Several regions in North Sumatra, Aceh, and West Sumatra are expected to experience heavy rainfall over the next three days.

Based on the potential for three-day extreme weather quoted from the bmkg.go.id page, moderate to heavy rain is predicted to continue in North Sumatra and West Sumatra on November 29 and 30, and December 1. Meanwhile, in Aceh, the potential for moderate to heavy rain is on December 1.

The potential for moderate to heavy rain over the next three days is also occurring in several regions in Indonesia, such as Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. Furthermore, in other areas, such as Riau, Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara, and Papua, rain is expected to reach the very heavy category accompanied by winds.

The BMKG Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC) at 07:00 WIB, Saturday (29/11/2025), also reported the presence of the ex-tropical cyclone Senyar within the monitoring area of TCWC Jakarta. Currently, the center of circulation is located at 5.0 degrees north latitude and 105.9 degrees east longitude.

In the vicinity of the South China Sea north of Tarempa, with a maximum wind speed of 30 knots and a minimum pressure of 1,003 hPa. Over the next 24 hours, Tropical Cyclone Senyar is moving towards the northeast.

The potential for tropical cyclone growth within the responsibility area of TCWC Jakarta in the coming days is estimated as follows: Sunday (+24 hours) low, Monday (+48 hours) low, and Tuesday (+72 hours) low. Nevertheless, vigilance must be maintained to minimize the occurrence of disasters again.

In a written statement, the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto reported that there were 174 fatalities, 79 missing persons, and 12 injuries due to hydrometeorological disasters in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh.

"This data will continue to evolve. There are still points that have not been reached. It is indicated that there may also be casualties at the landslide location," said Suharyanto.

In North Sumatra, 116 deaths have been recorded, and 42 others are still missing. Several evacuation points are located in Humbang Hasundutan to Mandailing Natal, with most situated in the districts of Siabu, Muara Batang Gadis, and Batahan.

Infrastructure disruptions continue to affect transportation access. In South Tapanuli, the national route Sidempuan–Sibolga is interrupted at one point, while the Sipirok–Medan route is interrupted at two points.

In Mandailing Natal, several road sections such as Singkuang–Tabuyung and Bulu Soma–Sopotinjak have been cut off due to flooding and landslides. Efforts to reopen access are being carried out through the deployment of heavy machinery.

According to Suharyanto, logistical distribution has been carried out primarily in Central Tapanuli and Mandailing Natal. This includes rice, ready-to-eat meals, tents, tarpaulins, and family kits. The central government has also deployed personnel from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and the Indonesian National Police (Polri), as well as cross-ministerial and institutional support.

Presidential assistance in the form of communication equipment, generators, LCR, compressors, tents, and consumable necessities has been distributed. Support for defense equipment includes Caravan aircraft, Airbus EC 155 helicopters for logistics distribution, and heavy machinery to expedite access to affected villages.

This disaster, according to Suharyanto, has also disrupted the telecommunications network system, leading to delays in data collection, distribution, and the development of information in the field. For the time being, the Starlink internet network has been deployed in evacuation locations as well as in emergency response posts.

"Starlink has been distributed to local governments, both at evacuation points and emergency response posts," said Suharyanto.

The number of fatalities in Aceh has reached 35, with 25 individuals reported missing and 8 injured. The highest number of victims comes from Bener Meriah, Southeast Aceh, and Central Aceh. As of now, data collection is still ongoing in several areas such as East Aceh, Aceh Singkil, and North Aceh.

"This data will continue to develop. Currently, 35 people have died (in Aceh)," said Suharyanto.

Displacement is widespread across 20 districts/cities, including 96 points in Lhokseumawe City. This situation has become a primary concern for both the regional and central governments to expedite the distribution of logistics and basic services.

"As of this afternoon, there are 4,846 families who have taken refuge," he said.

Transportation access in several regions of Aceh has also suffered significant damage. The national border route between North Sumatra and Aceh is cut off due to landslides. Damage to the bridge in Meureudu has resulted in the disruption of connectivity between Banda Aceh, Lhokseumawe, Aceh Timur, Langsa, and Aceh Tamiang.

Several districts such as Gayo Lues, Central Aceh, and Bener Meriah are currently inaccessible by land routes due to the total damage of national roads and bridges. Air routes have become the primary alternative, utilizing Gayo Lues Pioneer Airport and Rembele Bener Meriah Airport.

To ensure the smoothness of emergency communication, Starlink devices have been installed in Gayo Lues, Central Aceh, and Bener Meriah, and are in the process of being mobilized to several other areas. The distribution of logistics is being carried out, among others, in the city of Lhokseumawe, including rice, instant noodles, cooking oil, eggs, sugar, diapers, and medicines.

The central government deployed 26 personnel from BNPB and sent presidential assistance through three Hercules aircraft carrying logistics in the form of rice, sugar, oil, instant noodles, communication devices, tents, generators, LCR, and compressors.

Meanwhile, in West Sumatra, there are 23 fatalities, 12 missing persons, and 4 injuries reported across several regions, such as Padang Panjang, Tanah Datar, Agam, Padang City, and Pasaman Barat.

Several regions reported evacuation points, including 50 points in the South Coast, 3 points in the city of Padang, and several other points in the districts of Solok, Pasaman, and Tanah Datar. The total number of refugees is currently 3,900 families.

Like North Sumatra and Aceh, damage also occurred to transportation facilities in West Sumatra, including five damaged bridges in Padang Pariaman.

Landslides occurred on the national route Bukittinggi–Padang in the Padang Panjang area as well as on the provincial route in Agam Regency. Approximately 200 vehicles were temporarily stranded due to the road being cut off in Ampek Koto District.

BNPB, in collaboration with the local government, has distributed emergency logistics in Tanah Datar and Bukittinggi City in the form of food packages, hygiene kits, folding mattresses, ready-to-eat meals, and cleaning supplies.

Presidential assistance has also arrived in the form of communication equipment, generators, tents, ready-to-eat meals, and food supplies to support the acceleration of emergency response efforts.

In response to the increased risk of hydrometeorological disasters, BNPB also initiated Weather Modification Operations (OMC) simultaneously.

The goal is to reduce the potential for rainfall in disaster-prone areas by engineering the diversion of rain clouds to safer areas.

In Aceh, the OMC officially started on Friday (28/11), using the PK-SNP aircraft from the Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport Command Post.

Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, operations began on Thursday (27/11) from the Kualanamu Airport Post. Currently, four flight sorties have been completed, totaling 3,200 kilograms of Sodium Chloride (NaCl) and Calcium Oxide (CaO) seed materials.

The operation in West Sumatra is scheduled to commence on Saturday (29/11) with the deployment of aircraft PK-DPI and PK-SNK from the Minangkabau International Airport command post.