Isolated Villages in North Tapanuli Begin to be Accessible, While Central Tapanuli and Sibolga Remain Isolated

TARUTUNG, KOMPAS - After four days of handling, one by one, the villages isolated due to flash floods and landslides in North Sumatra are beginning to be accessible. However, the villages that can be reached are still on the side of North Tapanuli. The deceased victims are starting to be evacuated. Meanwhile, the locations in Central Tapanuli, South Tapanuli, and the city of Sibolga remain isolated. However, communication access has begun to be established in some areas.

Kompas monitoring, the Tarutung-Sibolga Road can now be accessed up to Kilometer 38 in Sibalanga Village, Adiankoting District, North Tapanuli, North Sumatra, Friday (11/28/2025).

Joint officers have cleared dozens of landslide points that previously blocked the road, starting from Kilometer 14. During four days of handling, several heavy equipment units successfully opened more than 30 landslide points along 24 kilometers of road.

"Currently, there are still 24 kilometers left to reach the city of Sibolga. We estimate that the cleaning process could take several days ahead," said the Head of the North Tapanuli Police Resort, Deputy Commissioner Ernis Sitinjak.

After the access road was opened, joint officers immediately delivered essential supplies to the two villages that had been isolated for four days, namely Sibalanga and Pagaranpisang. The officers also set up a public kitchen in those two villages.

A number of excavators and fire trucks were also immediately deployed to evacuate victims buried under mud and landslide material.

The officers also established a public kitchen in the two villages. They activated a generator for emergency electricity services. The officers also opened a satellite internet service, but the signal remains very limited, making it difficult to use.

Ernis said his team was focused on opening the route to Central Tapanuli, evacuating victims, and supplying basic necessities.

The Tarutung-Sibolga road is being prepared as the main route for supplying essential goods to the regions of Central Tapanuli, Sibolga, and South Tapanuli, which are located on the western coast of North Sumatra.

Vehicles are still lined up in long queues on that route. They consist of trucks transporting logistical needs, residents wishing to pass through, and families seeking news about their relatives.

Dinda Hutabarat (28) and her four siblings have been trying to access Sibalanga Village for four days. They came from Medan and Jakarta. She received news that her father, mother, and a younger sibling are missing and are suspected to be buried under a landslide.

They finally arrived in Sibalanga Village on Friday (28/11/2025) morning and found that their house had collapsed and was buried under three meters of mud. "I hope our parents and younger sibling can be found soon," said Dinda.

Diana Sitompul (45) has lost contact with her husband in the city of Sibolga since Tuesday (25/11/2025). She and her child have been stranded for three days on the Tarutung-Sibolga road. They are sleeping in a car parked by the roadside.

On Friday night, Diana finally received a call from her husband. She cried while embracing her five-year-old daughter. "We have been crying for four days waiting for news from Father. My child even walked from Thursday morning. Until now, we have not reached Sibolga," Diana told her husband.

The Head of the Public Relations Division of the North Sumatra Police, Commissioner Ferry Walintukan, stated that 12 districts and cities in North Sumatra have experienced flash floods and landslides due to heavy rain that has occurred since Sunday (23/11/2025).

As of Friday (28/11), a total of 62 people have been reported dead due to the disaster in North Sumatra. However, there are still several death reports that have not been included in that data. The fatalities in several locations in Central Tapanuli, South Tapanuli, and Sibolga have also not all been reported.