Sumatra Disaster: Search and Rescue Team Continues Search for Victims in Isolated Areas

BANDAR LAMPUNG, KOMPAS – The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) in the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra continues to work on evacuating both survivors and deceased victims due to the hydrometeorological disaster. As of Monday (1/12/2025), ongoing operations are prioritized to reach areas that remain isolated and inaccessible by land routes.

The Head of the Class A Search and Rescue Office in Banda Aceh, Al Hussain, stated that the evacuation and search for victims were conducted in almost all regions of Aceh, including Pidie Jaya Regency, North Aceh, East Aceh, Southeast Aceh, Meulaboh, and Nagan Raya. In addition, the joint SAR team also carried out similar operations in the cities of Langsa and Lhokseumawe, which are also in quite severe condition.

As of Sunday (30/11/2025) at 17:00 WIB, the number of disaster victims who have been evacuated in safe condition is 1,066 individuals. Meanwhile, 100 other victims were evacuated in deceased condition and nine others are still being searched for.

He added that the joint Search and Rescue team continues the operation to search for and assist the victims of the disaster. The operation has been expanded to other affected areas, including Bireuen Regency, West Aceh, and Bener Meriah. In Nagan Raya and West Aceh regencies, road access has been cut off, prompting the team to assist in delivering logistics using a rope system.

"The Banda Aceh Class A Search and Rescue Office continues to strive to reach all communities affected by the flood to provide assistance and evacuate them to safe locations. We are continuously planning follow-up operations with a priority scale for isolated areas that cannot be accessed by land routes," said Al Hussain in a statement via video sent to the media, Monday (1/12/2025).

Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, the Head of the Class A Search and Rescue Office in Medan, Hery Marantika, stated that the Joint SAR team successfully found one victim of the landslide in the area of the Mini-Hydro Power Plant (PLTM) project located in Aek Sibundong District, North Tapanuli Regency. The victim was Wilvilton Hutasoit (30), one of the workers on the PLTM project.

Landslides at the location occurred on Tuesday, (25/11/2025) following heavy rainfall that drenched the area. The landslide material, consisting of soil and rocks, struck the project work area, resulting in several workers being buried.

Until now, search and rescue operations are still ongoing to find one other victim who is still missing. The SAR operation will also be expanded to other areas, such as in the Parmonangan District and Adian Koting District. In these two locations, the SAR team has received reports of several residents who are still missing.

According to him, the weather conditions and unstable soil structure pose challenges in the search for victims. Moreover, heavy equipment cannot access the location due to interrupted access to the site. Despite facing various obstacles in the field, the SAR team continues to strive to evacuate all victims. "The joint SAR team is working as hard as possible in the field," he stated.

He added that his side continues to coordinate across agencies to strengthen operations in the field. "Synergy among agencies greatly aids in expediting the process. We urge all personnel to prioritize safety, considering the potential for aftershocks still exists," he added.

Based on data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as of November 30, 2025, the total number of fatalities due to disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra has reached 442 individuals. Meanwhile, 402 individuals are still reported missing.

Of the total, the number of fatalities in North Sumatra is the highest, reaching 217 lives, with another 209 individuals still missing. The deceased are spread across Tapanuli Tengah, Tapanuli Selatan, Sibolga City, Tapanuli Utara, Humbang Hasundutan, Pakpak Barat, Padang Sidempuan City, Deli Serdang, and Nias.

Meanwhile, the refugees are spread across several locations, including 3,600 individuals in North Tapanuli, 1,659 individuals in Central Tapanuli, 4,661 individuals in South Tapanuli, 4,456 individuals in the city of Sibolga, 2,200 individuals in Humbang Hasundutan, and 1,378 individuals in Mandailing Natal.

Land access in several districts is still cut off due to landslides and damaged bridges. In North Tapanuli, the Tarutung–Sibolga road is severed at several points, and several villages in Parmonangan and Adiankoting remain unreachable, affecting a total of more than 12,000 residents.

"For the Tarutung-Sibolga route, this is still normalization. The heavy equipment can cover 40 kilometers," said the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto during a press conference in North Tapanuli, North Sumatra.

In the province of Aceh, as of November 30, 2025, a total of 96 individuals have been reported deceased and 75 individuals are missing. The disaster victims are spread across Bener Meriah, Central Aceh, Pidie Jaya, Bireuen, Southeast Aceh, North Aceh, East Aceh, Lhokseumawe, Gayo Lues, Subulussalam, and Nagan Raya. Meanwhile, the number of refugees due to the disaster in Aceh has reached 62,000 households in nearly all districts and cities.