Basarnas: Hundreds Killed in Natural Disaster in Sumatra

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The National Search and Rescue Agency, or Basarnas, reported 105 fatalities due to natural disasters in North Sumatra and West Sumatra as of Friday (28/11/2025) at 12:00 WIB. For the casualties in Aceh, officials are still conducting further assessments. Nearly 2,000 personnel have been deployed for the disaster evacuation process in the three affected areas.

In North Sumatra, based on data from the Medan Search and Rescue Office and Nias Search and Rescue, 83 people have been reported dead and 81 individuals are still missing. The highest number of fatalities occurred in Central Tapanuli, with 34 recorded deaths, while in Sibolga, there were 30 fatalities. The total number of residents successfully evacuated due to this incident is 677 individuals.

Meanwhile, in West Sumatra, 22 people have been reported dead and 12 individuals are still missing. Data from the Padang Search and Rescue Office indicates that the highest number of fatalities occurred in Agam, with 10 individuals. The total number of residents evacuated has reached 29,152.

In Aceh, the number of deceased and missing victims is still being recorded. However, a total of 645 individuals have been successfully evacuated. The highest number of refugees is in North Aceh, with 3,507 refugees, and in East Aceh, where the number of refugees reaches 2,456 individuals.

Basarnas Chief Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii stated that the search for missing victims and evacuation of residents is ongoing. Various equipment is being used, including helicopters, excavators, rubber boats, and surveillance drones. The total number of personnel involved in the SAR process in the three provinces is nearly 2,000.

However, everything is carried out with a high degree of caution. The reason is that the rainfall and river water levels remain high, while access roads are still blocked by debris.

Reflecting on this, he recommended various parties to minimize risks. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency is expected to carry out weather modification related to the high levels of rainfall. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works is expected to assist in clearing access roads that are blocked by landslide materials.

In the future, Syafii stated, evacuation teams will continue to be deployed to provide assistance. The KN SAR Purworejo, for instance, departed from Tanjung Pinang to Lhokseumawe with 30 personnel, 12 rubber boats, and 2 units of Starlink. Additionally, the HR-3604 helicopter will head to West Sumatra to survey flood-affected settlements for further evacuation efforts.

"All these measures are designed to expedite the response, broaden the search efforts, and ensure that all affected communities receive assistance as quickly and safely as possible," said Syafii.

Meanwhile, hydrology expert from Padjadjaran University, Chay Asdak, stated that there are two main factors triggering disasters in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh.

The first factor is natural elements influenced by cyclones and the topography of the region. The impact of the tropical cyclone Senyar, which triggers extreme weather, becomes more pronounced when it is in hilly areas.

In hilly areas, evaporation typically occurs at a higher rate, triggering the formation of convective clouds that lead to extreme weather, such as storms and strong winds.

"The presence of cyclones, coupled with evaporation in the hills, increases the frequency of extreme weather events and makes their impacts even more dangerous," Chay said.

Chay stated that natural phenomena can never be fought against. However, he emphasized that their impacts can be mitigated. At the very least, local governments or residents in the surrounding areas can be better prepared to face the potential emergence of cyclones in vulnerable regions.

"In the future, I hope that information regarding cyclone vulnerabilities and topography is provided by BMKG more quickly and accurately before disasters occur. The aim is for the best mitigation to prevent loss of life," he said.

The second factor is human actions or anthropogenic causes. One of them is land use policy. Without ideal regulations, Chay stated, human actions will only invite greater dangers in the future.

"Palm oil plantations and food estates, for example, require ideal management. We're not rejecting either, but going forward, implementation on the ground must continue to minimize future disasters," Chay said.