Major Disaster in Sumatra

The Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto was still in Lumajang, East Java, on Tuesday (25/11/2025), when he received orders from President Prabowo Subianto through Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya to address the disaster in Sumatra.

Lumajang is an area affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru on November 19, 2025. Previously, a landslide disaster occurred in Central Java, specifically in Cilacap on November 13, 2025, and in Banjarnegara on November 16, 2025.

The forecast from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) regarding the peak of the rainy season from November 2025 to February 2026 has already resulted in hydrometeorological disaster impacts from the outset. The disaster has shifted to the island of Sumatra. BMKG has predicted that the tropical cyclone Senyar will occur from November 21 to 26, 2025. This cyclone, characterized by heavy rain and strong winds, has caused saturation of water on the surface of the hills and rivers, leading to flooding and landslides.

The government's focus has expanded to the Sumatra region for emergency response efforts in northern Sumatra. Floods and landslides occurred in several locations across three provinces, namely Aceh Province, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, from November 25 to 27, 2025.

Not only hydrometeorological disasters, but also an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 occurred in Aceh—specifically on Simeulue Island—on Thursday (27/11) afternoon. Several buildings in Simeulue were damaged and some individuals were injured. There were no fatalities in the disaster caused by the earthquake.

The more severe impacts are seen in the disasters of flooding and landslides. As of Friday (28/11), 105 people have been reported dead. Communication infrastructure has been disrupted, and several roads are closed due to landslides, hindering access to food and drinking water. The effects of the disaster are exacerbated by environmental damage, which, according to Walhi, occurs due to land conversion.

However, while continuing to seek the causes and prevent more severe impacts in the future, we support the swift action of President Prabowo, who ordered the deployment of four military aircraft to transport aid materials to the disaster locations. In addition to three Hercules transport aircraft, one new Airbus A400 was also flown on Friday (28/11) to Padang, West Sumatra; Medan, North Sumatra; as well as Banda Aceh and Lhokseumawe in Aceh.

Items transported by aircraft, such as generators, tents, communication equipment, and food supplies, are critically needed by disaster victims. The use of planes and helicopters is indeed necessary to more quickly access disaster-stricken areas that are cut off.

In addition to the state and its apparatus present to address the impacts of disasters, social solidarity is equally important. Various efforts to raise funds and provide assistance to the victims deserve our appreciation.