Access to Central Tapanuli Accelerated, 166 Dead Victims Found in North Sumatera

TARUTUNG, KOMPAS - For a week now, access roads to the disaster-affected areas of Central Tapanuli, South Tapanuli, and the city of Sibolga in North Sumatera have been completely cut off. Access to the area, namely the Tarutung-Sibolga road, remains paralyzed.

So far, joint officers have opened the road from kilometer 14 to kilometer 36. However, landslide and flash flood materials, in the form of mud and tree trunks, are still piled up in dozens of other locations.

"There are still about 30 kilometers of road that cannot be traversed due to landslides. In several places, the road has also subsided," said the Head of the Operations and Maintenance Working Unit of the Sumatera II River Basin Organization, Indra Kurnia, in North Tapanuli, Sunday (30/11/2025).

According to Kompas, several excavators were deployed to clear access to km 36. This location was one of the worst landslides. Mud and tree trunks piled up four meters high along the 300-meter stretch of road.

For three days, several heavy machinery units have been working at the site and have only managed to clear a path of about 200 meters. The officers are struggling to move large logs and deep mud. "This is one of the worst points," said Indra.

Indra stated that the joint team for road opening will work 24 hours a day. They will divide the team into two groups. The team is preparing adequate lighting to enable work during the night.

The Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General (TNI) Suharyanto, stated that the government is currently focused on opening land routes to the regions of Central Tapanuli, South Tapanuli, and the City of Sibolga.

The opening of the road to the area is being expedited in order to send essential aid, evacuate victims, and conduct disaster emergency response.

"In North Sumatra, there are 166 people who have died and 143 others reported missing. The highest number of victims is in Central Tapanuli, South Tapanuli, and the city of Sibolga," said Suharyanto.

Throughout Saturday to Sunday, said Suharyanto, the joint search and rescue team successfully evacuated more than 60 deceased victims in North Sumatra. Thousands of residents are also still displaced in various areas due to damaged settlements and disrupted access.

According to Kompas, residents from various isolated villages in Central Tapanuli continue to travel towards North Tapanuli in search of basic necessities. They walk 3-8 hours from their respective villages to Adiankoting District.

Bonar Hutagalung (46), a resident of Pagaran Lambung I Village, walked past a landslide accumulation to the nearest village that is now accessible by vehicle. Their village has been isolated for a week. Their rice stock has begun to dwindle.

In the past week, the villagers have been eating at the evacuation post. The village office purchased rice from a truck carrying rice that was trapped in a landslide in the village. However, the stock of rice is also running low.

"I just walked to buy rice in the nearest village that is now accessible. However, the shops in that village also no longer have any rice in stock for sale," said Bonar.

Since Sunday morning, dozens of residents have been seen leaving isolated villages. They can only obtain instant noodles and cooking oil that they purchase from small shops. Some are fortunate to receive assistance from several organizations supplying basic necessities.

Access to electricity in those isolated villages is still completely cut off. The supply of liquefied petroleum gas is similarly lacking. Residents have ultimately resorted to cooking with firewood.

They also make lamps from glass bottles, using kerosene and diesel fuel from cars.