Breaking Through Isolation is a Priority in Handling Disasters in Sumatra

The central government, through the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), is focused on alleviating the isolation of areas affected by disasters in Aceh and North Sumatra. Blocked roads are being cleared, and emergency communication equipment is being provided gradually.

The opening of isolated areas has become a priority to facilitate search and rescue (SAR) operations, to obtain more accurate data on victims, and to distribute aid, such as food supplies, medicines, and evacuation equipment. Currently, residents in several affected areas have begun to complain about dwindling stocks of basic necessities and are experiencing health issues.

The Head of BNPB, Suharyanto, in a press conference broadcasted on the @bnpb_indonesia channel on Friday (28/11/2025) evening, stated that currently, the tropical cyclones Senyar and Koto are beginning to leave the Indonesian territory and are moving towards Malaysia. These two cyclones have been the triggers for extreme weather in the regions of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, resulting in hydrometeorological disasters since Tuesday (25/11/2025).

With the passing of the natural phenomenon, the weather conditions in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra are gradually returning to normal. At least since Thursday (27/11/2025) evening, the rain in the three provinces has started to subside. The weather in these three provinces has also been clearer throughout Friday.

In addition to natural factors, the more favorable weather changes are also influenced by weather modification operations (OMC) conducted since Thursday night. OMC was carried out using one aircraft each in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has also prepared a backup aircraft if needed for the intensification of these operations.

The OMC is intended to reduce the likelihood of rain that could risk prolonging the impacts of disasters and causing subsequent disasters. "With the cessation of rain, the joint officers in the field can carry out accelerated operations to open transportation and telecommunications access that are still paralyzed or cut off in several disaster-affected areas," said Suharyanto.

In Aceh, according to Suharyanto, transportation access in almost all of its 17 districts is still disrupted. However, the most severe or still disconnected access is from and to Gayo Lues Regency, which is located right in the middle of the Aceh mountainous region.

Therefore, Gayo Lues remains isolated from all assistance, including emergency communication tools or devices. Consequently, accurate information or data regarding casualties and those affected there is still difficult to obtain.

In addition to Gayo Lues, other districts/cities where transportation access is still disrupted include Central Aceh, Southeast Aceh, East Aceh, and West Aceh. Transportation access in other districts/cities has not fully recovered, but it tends to improve.

Transportation access has been disrupted due to roads that are still flooded, collapsed, and blocked by landslides, as well as a collapsed bridge. Meanwhile, telecommunications access is paralyzed because the power supply is down due to several severely damaged power towers.

Currently, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) along with related agencies, particularly the military and police, and the Ministry of Public Works (PU) are working to restore disrupted or obstructed transportation access. They are using heavy machinery to clear debris covering the roads and to open emergency access around collapsed or sunken roads. Repairing the collapsed bridges requires a longer handling time, including the provision of emergency bridges.

"To restore the broken access roads, we are working to open them using heavy machinery. We need time because the impact of the disaster in Aceh has only recently occurred or happened later compared to North Sumatra and West Sumatra," said Suharyanto.

In North Sumatra, the transportation access that remains disconnected is the route to and from North Tapanuli, Central Tapanuli, Sibolga, and the South Tapanuli-Medan access. The cause is due to road access that is still blocked by landslide materials and collapsed bridges.

For West Sumatra, Suharyanto stated that there are indeed several transportation accesses that are disrupted, including access to and from Pasaman, Agam, Bukit Tinggi, Padang Panjang, and Padang. Nevertheless, these accesses can still be traversed by small vehicles or on foot. "Compared to Aceh and North Sumatra, transportation access in West Sumatra is still better," he remarked.

Suharyanto stated that opening transportation access is crucial to facilitate the emergency response process, particularly for search and rescue operations. Currently, the BNPB reports that there are 35 fatalities, 25 missing persons, and eight injuries due to the disaster in Aceh.

From the information gathered, the largest number of victims comes from Bener Meriah Regency with 11 fatalities and 13 missing persons, as well as Aceh Tengah with 15 fatalities. In addition, 4,846 heads of families (KK) are displaced, scattered across various regencies/cities in Aceh.

In North Sumatra, the number of victims has reached 116 deceased and 42 missing. The largest number of victims comes from Central Tapanuli with 47 deceased and South Tapanuli with 32 deceased. Additionally, around 1,000 families have been displaced.

In West Sumatra, there are 23 fatalities, 12 missing persons, and four injured. On the other hand, approximately 3,900 families are displaced.

Suharyanto explained that the number of victims and displaced residents is predicted to continue to rise as transportation and communication access opens up in the areas that are still isolated. At the very least, once transportation access is opened, the aid teams can provide support for search and rescue operations.

The assistance team can also provide emergency communication devices to facilitate the process of delivering up-to-date information. "Currently, even if there are victims or residents evacuating, we do not yet have accurate data because the people there are unable to convey that information due to communication access still being down," said Suharyanto.

Currently, even if there are victims or residents who have evacuated, we do not yet have accurate data because the people there have not been able to convey that information due to communication access still being disrupted.

Conversely, to restore the paralyzed telecommunications access, the BNPB, in collaboration with related agencies, provided emergency communication devices utilizing Starlink internet. At least since Friday, the government has delivered 28 units of Starlink along with 28 units of generators to Aceh and 17 units of Starlink along with 17 units of generators to North Sumatra. The Starlink units have been distributed to areas where communication access remains extremely challenging.

For example, in Aceh, Starlink has been installed in Gayo Lues, Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, Bireuen, Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, East Aceh, Langsa, and Aceh Tamiang. In North Sumatra, Starlink has been installed in Tapanuli Raya and Sibolga. West Sumatra did not receive Starlink assistance because its telecommunications network is relatively still normal.

Suharyanto stated that the government chose Starlink because it is more practical to transport and install in emergency locations. This will greatly assist in the process of actualizing data on the number of casualties or those affected by disasters in Aceh and North Sumatra.

In addition, the presence of emergency communication devices is useful for helping residents reconnect with family or relatives with whom they have lost contact. This can alleviate the anxiety of family members or relatives who have not received news about their loved ones in the disaster-affected areas for the past few days.

"We will continue to increase the number of emergency communication devices. This is because the current number is very limited. One device can serve a maximum of about 100 people within a radius of approximately 100 square meters. If the number of affected residents is large, they will compete for the signal, making the existing signal less optimal," said Suharyanto.

In addition, the opening of transportation and communication access will be very useful in assisting coordination and the distribution process of logistical aid, ranging from food, medicines, to evacuation equipment, including rubber boats, tents, sleeping mats, and blankets. In fact, since Friday morning, they have already begun distributing logistical aid from the President and related ministries/agencies.

Food supplies, such as rice and instant noodles, have been distributed to the areas most severely affected, particularly in Aceh and North Sumatra. So far, the amount of assistance is recognized as still insufficient. However, as transportation access opens up, the aid provided will continue to be gradually increased according to the needs on the ground.

"Currently, there is assistance that is still being distributed via air routes before being transported overland by motorcycle or on foot. Once transportation and communication access is fully opened, we can distribute assistance on a larger and broader scale," said Suharyanto.

The provision of food and medicine assistance for affected residents is urgently needed. In Aceh, for instance, the Coordinator of Aceh Disaster Care Volunteers, Fachrul Razi, stated that many residents in remote areas have already reported experiencing hunger and illness.

This is because their food supplies have dwindled. On the other hand, there are no shops open. Even if there are some that are open, the available stock is very limited and the prices have skyrocketed. As a result, obtaining food supplies has become a matter of competition.

We hope that the distribution of food and medicine assistance is carried out promptly to the residents in remote areas that are currently still difficult to access. We must ensure that there are no casualties due to hunger and illness following the disaster.

Meanwhile, in a state of increasing hunger, many residents have begun to complain of illnesses, such as fever and skin diseases. This is because they have been exposed to damp conditions for days due to continuous rainfall and being trapped in floodwaters.

"We hope that the distribution of food and medicine assistance will be carried out promptly to the residents in remote areas that are currently still difficult to access. We must not allow any casualties due to hunger and illness following the disaster," said Fachrul.