Several Disaster Hotspots in Agam Remain Isolated

PADANG PANJANG, KOMPAS - Several points affected by flash floods and landslides in Agam Regency, West Sumatera, remain isolated due to the disruption of road access. Officials are using helicopters and rubber boats to evacuate victims and deliver logistics to the locations.

"We are still facing difficulties in distributing logistics and food. There are still many isolated areas due to disrupted land transportation caused by landslides and road collapses," said the Head of the Agam District Disaster Management Agency, Rahmad Lasmono, when contacted from Padang Panjang, Sunday (30/11/2025).

According to Rahmad Lasmono, there are at least three disaster points in Agam where the road access is isolated, namely Palembayan District, Malalak, and Tanjung Raya District.

Rahmad continued, to reach the location, the officers used air and water routes. In Palembayan and Malalak, the officers utilized helicopters to evacuate the injured and sick victims as well as to deliver logistical and food assistance.

To Tanjung Raya, the officers used rubber boats to navigate Lake Maninjau. "We are still continuously working to open and repair road access so that these areas are no longer isolated," said Rahmad.

Flash floods and landslides struck Agam on November 26-27. The disaster emergency response post of Agam Regency recorded that as of Sunday at 12:00 PM WIB, the number of fatalities reached 87, with 76 individuals reported missing.

The total number of victims is spread across five sub-districts, namely Palembayan with 69 fatalities and 71 missing persons, Malalak (10 fatalities and 5 missing persons), Tanjung Raya (6 fatalities), Matur (1 fatality), and Palupuh (1 fatality).

Separately, Padang Panjang Deputy Mayor Allex Saputra said the joint SAR team was still attempting to evacuate victims of the flash flood, or galodo, at the twin bridge in Silaing Bawah Village. The search was being conducted at the disaster site and along the Batang Anai River.

"As of Sunday evening, the data on the number of casualties received by us is 26 people. The details are 14 residents of Padang Panjang and the rest are from outside Padang Panjang," he said.

In the city of Padang Panjang, the national road connecting Padang and Bukittinggi remains paralyzed. Although the twin bridges have begun to be passable for emergency purposes, the national road in the Lembah Anai area of Tanah Datar Regency is still cut off for more than 100 meters.

Meanwhile, the Padang Panjang Police Department will begin implementing a system for transferring corpses or patients from one ambulance to another in Lembah Anai starting this week, in order to connect access from Padang to Padang Panjang. This method is expected to be more effective and efficient than taking the alternative route that detours to Danau Singkarak and Sitinjau Lauik.

"Ambulances are on standby at two locations. Officers walked about 100-150 meters carrying the victim through the roadside and forest," said Padang Panjang Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Kartyana Widyarso Wardoyo Putro, Sunday afternoon.