The Death Toll from the Sumatra Disaster Soars to 303

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The number of victims of the natural disaster in Sumatra surged from 196 lives on Saturday afternoon to 303 lives lost as of Sunday morning (30/11/2025). This number is predicted to continue to rise as the search and rescue (SAR) operations are ongoing, and it may expand to areas that have remained isolated.

According to data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), there has been an increase in the number of victims due to hydrometeorological disasters triggered by the tropical cyclone Senyar in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Previously, as of Friday (28/11/2025) evening, BNPB recorded the number of victims from the disaster reaching 174 deceased, 79 missing, and 12 injured. By Saturday afternoon, the death toll rose to 196.

On Saturday (29/11/2025) evening, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) updated the data once again. As a result, the number of victims from the disaster surged to 303 fatalities, 279 missing, and 18 injured. The details include 47 fatalities, 51 missing, and eight injured in Aceh; 166 fatalities and 143 missing in North Sumatra, as well as 90 fatalities, 85 missing, and 10 injured in West Sumatra.

In addition, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded that tens of thousands of households (KK) or hundreds of thousands of individuals have been displaced due to the impacts of the disaster in Sumatra. So far, the number of refugees is significantly high in Aceh, reaching 48,887 households. The refugees in Aceh are spread across several districts/cities, with the highest numbers located in Aceh Utara, Bener Meriah, Aceh Tengah, and Aceh Singkil.

The Head of BNPB, Suharyanto, stated in a press conference from Silangit, North Tapanuli, North Sumatra, that the surge in the number of disaster victims in Sumatra is occurring alongside the expansion of search and rescue operations. Therefore, the number of victims is predicted to continue to rise as the search and rescue operations proceed and may extend to areas that are still isolated.

"The increase in the number of disaster victims in Sumatra is due to the SAR operation continuing to expand into areas that were previously unreachable. This data will continue to evolve as the SAR operation progresses," said Suharyanto as broadcasted on the YouTube channel @bnpb_Indonesia, Saturday evening.

The increase in the number of victims of the Sumatra disaster is thanks to the SAR operation continuing to expand to previously unreachable areas.

According to Suharyanto, the expansion of the search and rescue operations will be crucial in determining the development of data regarding the number of disaster victims in Sumatra. Until now, many affected areas remain isolated from land transportation access and telecommunications networks.

In Aceh, many national roads and bridges connecting national roads are severed due to severe damage or are still blocked by debris following the disaster. Several access routes that remain impassable or difficult to traverse include the Banda Aceh-Lhokseumawe road and the Aceh-North Sumatra border route in the Aceh Tamiang region.

Until now, several regions remain isolated due to a complete disruption of access to and from these areas, such as Gayo Lues, Aceh Tengah, and Bener Meriah.

In North Sumatra, the national road connecting Sibolga-Padang Sidempuan and the Sibolga-Tarutung route has been completely severed due to landslides at numerous locations. Similarly, the Sibolga-Manduamas road remains impassable due to several broken connecting bridges.

In addition, there are at least seven areas that are isolated due to the national road being cut off in Mandailing Natal. In fact, several villages there can only be accessed using heavy equipment or air transportation.

Several district roads to and from the affected areas in North Sumatra remain cut off. The process of recovery or repair of connecting infrastructure in several regions cannot be carried out in the near future due to the challenging terrain conditions.

A nearly similar situation is occurring in West Sumatra. Several national and provincial roads leading to and from the affected areas remain cut off due to landslides. On the other hand, several bridges connecting national and provincial roads have suffered damage.

Currently, the BNPB, along with related parties, continues to strive to expedite the process of opening access to the areas that remain isolated. This is to facilitate search and rescue operations and the distribution of aid to affected residents.

"The acceleration of access opening is a top priority during the emergency disaster response in the three provinces. Opening access is crucial to expand search and rescue operations and to optimize the process of data collection on victims and damages, as well as to meet the basic needs of affected residents," said Suharyanto.

Suharyanto stated that, for the acceleration of handling the situation, the central government through several relevant ministries/agencies has deployed various assistance. A number of heavy equipment have been dispatched to expedite the opening of land access that is still blocked by debris from floods or landslides.

Several aircraft have been deployed, including helicopters and light aircraft, to transport search and rescue personnel and deliver aid to areas that are not yet accessible by land routes. Several emergency communication devices utilizing the Starlink satellite network have also been installed at various points that have been isolated from communication networks.

"We continue to strive with all our might to ensure that disaster management continues to progress every day," said Suharyanto.

Meanwhile, Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, during his visit to Aceh, stated that the central and regional governments have decided to distribute aid to affected residents via air for areas that cannot be accessed by land. The distribution will utilize aircraft and helicopters belonging to the military.

The logistics of the aid will be dropped directly from the air to specific points. In the future, there will be TNI soldiers on standby to receive the aid on the ground before it is distributed to the residents. This method of direct air distribution will begin on Sunday and will be carried out continuously.

"The distribution of aid will no longer wait for a lengthy process because the situation in Aceh requires an emergency and rapid response. Therefore, all basic needs assistance, such as food, clean water, medicines, and shelter, will be distributed massively from the air to all affected areas. This aid will be received by TNI soldiers before being distributed to the residents," said Sjafrie.

Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf has requested full support from the central government to expedite the handling of disaster impacts in Aceh. They are overwhelmed in managing the extensive and significant effects of the disaster. The situation is exacerbated by the many disrupted land access routes.

"We are overwhelmed in terms of transportation. Many affected areas are isolated because the roads and bridges to and from those regions are cut off, especially in East Aceh, North Aceh, Gayo Lues, and Southeast Aceh. Until now, we have not been able to reach out to the people affected there. The residents there are likely starting to experience hunger as they have been isolated for days," he said.