Aceh Declares Disaster Emergency Status, Aid Distribution Hampered by Transportation Access

BANDAR LAMPUNG, KOMPAS — Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, also known as Mualem, has officially declared a state of hydrometeorological disaster for 2025 following significant flooding and landslides that have affected nearly all regions of Aceh. The paralysis of land transportation has hindered the distribution of aid to the affected areas.

The declaration of a disaster emergency status was conveyed during the plenary meeting for the ratification of the Draft Qanun APBA 2026 at the Aceh Regional Representative Council Office, Thursday (27/11/2025).

"I, the Governor of Aceh, have established the Governor's Decision regarding the Declaration of a State of Emergency for Hydrometeorological Disasters in Aceh for the year 2025. This emergency declaration will last for 14 days, from November 28 to December 11, 2025," said Mualem during a press conference in Aceh.

According to Mualem, the Aceh government has distributed emergency assistance to several districts/cities affected by floods and landslides. However, he acknowledged that transportation access has been paralyzed, including the collapse of bridges on the national route from Banda Aceh to Medan. This situation has hindered the distribution of aid and the mobilization of personnel to disaster locations.

"We are doing our utmost to address the needs of the community; we have provided basic necessities and other assistance for the time being. We are also overwhelmed because several bridges are cut off, particularly in the central and eastern regions where there is no transportation," said Mualem during an interview with the media in Aceh.

According to him, the declaration of a state of emergency is expected to expedite the mobilization of logistics, evacuation, and inter-agency support to address the disaster that is currently spreading across various regions in Aceh. He has also requested the Aceh Regional Police to provide helicopters to accelerate the distribution of aid to the affected areas and isolated regions.

Disasters have struck almost all regions of Aceh in the past week. The affected areas include the eastern coastal regions, the northern coast, and the highlands of Gayo. Tens of thousands of residents have been impacted, villages are isolated, and vital infrastructure has been damaged.

Based on information gathered from the Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBA) as of November 27, 2025, at 16:00 WIB, the number of residents affected by the flood and landslide disaster is recorded at 119,988 people, with 20,759 of them displaced.

The data was collected from 16 districts/cities affected by disasters in Aceh, namely Pidie, Aceh Besar, Pidie Jaya, Aceh Tamiang, Aceh Tenggara, Aceh Barat, Subulussalam, Bireuen, Lhokseumawe, Aceh Timur, Langsa, Bener Meriah, Gayo Lues, Aceh Singkil, Aceh Utara, and Aceh Selatan. In Bener Meriah District, one person was reported missing after being swept away by the current during a flash flood in the Wih Pesam sub-district.

Meanwhile, the Commander of Military Resort 011/Lilawangsa, Colonel Infantry Ali Imran, stated that, according to reports from field officers, several areas in Aceh are still inundated with floods and buried under landslides. The joint team attempting to rescue and evacuate residents requires heavy equipment to open the still-isolated routes.

"There are still many (residents) trapped on the rooftops. In fact, there are corpses that have not yet been evacuated," said Ali when contacted from Bandar Lampung, Thursday (27/11/2025).

Until now, all TNI soldiers in Aceh are still making efforts to evacuate and rescue residents using rubber boats and equipment available at the location. Despite being in limited conditions, the authorities continue to strive to save the flood victims.

According to him, the victims of the flood and landslide disaster in Aceh are in urgent need of ready-to-eat food and clothing. In addition, the rescue teams on the ground also require assistance in the form of boats to evacuate residents. He hopes that helicopters carrying food and medical supplies can be dispatched to several locations soon.

The Commander of Danramil 19/Sawang Kodim 0103/Aceh Utara, Captain Infantry Syamsul Hamdani, stated that his team evacuated approximately 100 residents who were trapped by flooding in their homes in Punteut Village and Meunasah Pulo Village, Sawang District, Aceh Utara Regency.

Although the waters are gradually receding, the rescue was dramatic due to the strong flood currents, requiring officers to be cautious. "We are currently on standby in Banda Baro. We can't return because the bridge at Paya Dua, Banda Baro District, is impassable. The water is rushing, reaching a height of 70 centimeters," he said.