Reflecting on the Disaster in Sumatra, Prabowo Reminds of the Urgency of Protecting Nature

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The government continues to monitor natural disasters affecting several regions in Sumatra, particularly in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. The status of the disaster emergency will be determined based on the monitoring results. Assistance is also assured to be continuously sent to help the disaster victims.

"We continue to monitor. We keep sending assistance, and later we will assess the situation," said President Prabowo Subianto to reporters after attending the Annual Meeting of Bank Indonesia in Jakarta, Friday (28/11/2025) evening.

One of the aid shipments was sent on Friday morning, using three TNI AU Hercules aircraft and one A400 aircraft from the TNI AU Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta. The assistance includes tents, ready-to-eat meals, and generators. The four aircraft flew to Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, which are the three provinces most severely affected by the natural disaster.

The occurrence of disasters in the North Sumatra region was also raised by Prabowo in his speech during the peak event of the National Teacher's Day 2025 and the Annual Meeting of Bank Indonesia on Friday. The President invited everyone to pray and seek assistance from the Almighty to alleviate the suffering of the disaster victims.

This disaster, according to the President, should remind everyone to protect the environment.

"That environmental issues are extremely important in the context of the climate change we are experiencing on our planet today," said President Prabowo at the BI Annual Meeting on Friday evening.

When meeting with teachers at the peak of the 2025 Teacher's Day celebration, Prabowo also hoped that teachers would incorporate an understanding of environmental preservation into the lesson syllabus.

"I am confident that (the learning about preserving nature) has already begun, but we need to add it to the subject syllabus, raising awareness of the critical importance of protecting our natural environment, preserving our forests, truly preventing deforestation, and forest destruction. We must ensure that rivers remain clean. Every household must play a role," he stated.

Disasters in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh, according to the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lieutenant General Suharyanto, resulted in 174 fatalities. In addition, there are still 79 individuals missing and 12 injured.

The highest number of victims is in North Sumatra with 116 fatalities and 42 missing persons. The casualties are spread across several districts, including North Tapanuli with 11 people, Central Tapanuli with 51 people, South Tapanuli with 32 people, the city of Sibolga with 17 people, Humbang Hasundutan with 6 people, the city of Padang Sidempuan with 1 person, and Pakpak Barat with 2 people.

According to Suharyanto, the data is still evolving as there are still areas that have not been accessed. "It is indicated that there may also be casualties at the landslide location," he said at Silangit Airport, North Tapanuli, North Sumatra.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) also noted that the disruption of infrastructure due to disasters complicates transportation access. In South Tapanuli, the national route Sidempuan–Sibolga is cut off at one point, while Sipirok–Medan is interrupted at two points. In Mandailing Natal, several road sections such as Singkuang–Tabuyung and Bulu Soma–Sopotinjak are blocked due to flooding and landslides. Efforts to reopen access are being made by deploying heavy machinery.

The distribution of logistics such as rice aid, ready-to-eat meals, tents, tarpaulins, and family kits has been carried out, particularly in Tapanuli Tengah and Mandailing Natal. The central government has also deployed personnel from BNPB, the military and police, as well as support from various ministries/agencies.

Presidential assistance in the form of communication equipment, generators, LCR, compressors, tents, and consumable necessities has been distributed. Defense equipment such as the Caravan aircraft and Airbus EC 155 helicopters for logistics distribution, as well as heavy machinery, are being utilized to expedite the opening of access to affected villages.

This disaster has also disrupted the telecommunications network system, leading to delays in data collection, distribution, and the development of information in the field. The BNPB has brought in a solution in the form of providing Starlink internet network equipment, which is temporarily placed at evacuation sites and emergency response posts.

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

Meanwhile, in Aceh Province, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded 35 fatalities, 25 missing persons, and 8 injuries. 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.

Displacement is widespread across 20 districts/cities, including 96 points in Lhokseumawe City. "As of this afternoon, there are 4,846 families displaced," said Suharyanto.

Transportation access in several regions of Aceh has also suffered significant damage. The national border route between North Sumatra and Aceh has been cut off due to landslides. Damage to the bridge in Meureudu has halted 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 total damage to national roads and bridges. Air routes have become the primary alternative, utilizing Gayo Lues Pioneer Airport and Rembele Bener Meriah Airport.

For emergency communication, Starlink devices have also been installed in Gayo Lues, Central Aceh, and Bener Meriah. Several other regions will also receive similar facilities.

In West Sumatra, there have been 23 recorded fatalities, 12 missing persons, and 4 injuries spread across several areas such as Padang Panjang, Tanah Datar, Agam, the city of Padang, and Pasaman Barat. Dozens of evacuation points in West Sumatra are accommodating approximately 3,900 families.

Damage also occurred to transportation facilities, including five damaged bridges in Padang Pariaman. Landslides occurred on the national route from Bukittinggi to Padang in the Padang Panjang area, as well as on the provincial route in Agam Regency. Approximately 200 vehicles were temporarily trapped due to the road being cut off in Ampek Koto District.

"There is a landslide on the national route from Bukittinggi to Padang in Padang Panjang City," added Suharyanto.

BNPB, in collaboration with local governments, 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, LCR, and ready-to-consume food to support the acceleration of emergency response efforts.