The President has not Yet Raised the Disaster Status in Sumatera

NORTH TAPANULI, KOMPAS - President Prabowo Subianto continues to monitor efforts to address the disaster of flooding and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. To date, the President believes that the status of the disaster emergency does not yet need to be elevated to a national disaster emergency.

"Yes, we continue to monitor. I believe the situation is improving. I think the current condition (provincial emergency) is sufficient," said President Prabowo after inspecting the disaster site in Tapanuli Tengah, North Sumatra, on Monday (1/12/2025).

On Monday morning, President Prabowo and his entourage departed from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta heading to Sisingamangaraja XII Airport in Silangit, North Tapanuli, North Sumatra. Upon arriving in Silangit at around 08:00 WIB, the President immediately took a Caracal helicopter to fly to the disaster-affected area in Central Tapanuli.

According to the President, currently, disaster management is focused on the delivery of aid. One of the priorities is the delivery of fuel oil.

The President also received reports on disaster management efforts from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the National Police, and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). According to the reports received, electricity supply will be available again in the near future. Furthermore, access to several isolated areas has been reopened.

"I expressed my gratitude to all the agencies that have worked hard. The BNPB reacted very quickly, the TNI was also very quick, and the Polri responded promptly as well. We have deployed a significant number of helicopters, Hercules aircraft, and we have made all our planes available," he explained.

The President understands that the disaster survivors are currently in a state of shock and trauma. Nevertheless, the government has made efforts to provide the best response in dealing with the disaster. "We are now mobilizing whatever is needed (for disaster response)," he added.

Inter-agency cooperation, both at the central and regional levels, which has been established during disaster management, is expected by the President to be further strengthened. With good teamwork, the President believes that the difficulties faced by the community due to disasters can be promptly addressed.

In addition, the President also received a weather forecast report for the upcoming period. According to the report, the weather is expected to continue improving.

Prabowo saw the disasters that occurred in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra as the impact of climate change.

"The current condition of climate change must be addressed properly; the government must truly function to protect the environment and anticipate future conditions. Those in the regions must also be prepared to face the challenges of climate change," he added.

After leaving North Sumatra, the President flew to Aceh and then continued to West Sumatra, also to observe disaster response efforts in those regions.

The head of BNPB, Suharyanto, stated that the total number of victims of hydrometeorological disasters who died in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra until Sunday (30/11/2025) reached 442 individuals. As many as 402 individuals are still reported missing.

The death toll in North Sumatra has reached 217, while 209 individuals are still missing. The fatalities in North Sumatra are primarily from Central Tapanuli, South Tapanuli, the city of Sibolga, North Tapanuli, Humbang Hasundutan, Pakpak Bharat, the city of Padang Sidempuan, Deli Serdang, and Nias.

The refugees are spread across several locations, including 3,600 individuals in North Tapanuli, 1,659 individuals in Central Tapanuli, 4,661 individuals in South Tapanuli, 4,456 individuals in the city of Sibolga, 2,200 individuals in Humbang Hasundutan, and 1,378 individuals in Mandailing Natal.

In Aceh Province, there have been 96 reported deaths and 75 individuals missing, spread across Bener Meriah, Aceh Tengah, Pidie Jaya, Bireuen, Aceh Tenggara, Aceh Utara, Aceh Timur, Lhokseumawe, Gayo Lues, Subulussalam, and Nagan Raya. The number of refugees has reached 62,000 families in several districts/cities.

Meanwhile, the number of fatalities in West Sumatra, according to data from BNPB, has reached 129 individuals, with 118 missing and 16 injured. The victims are spread across Agam Regency, Padang Panjang City, Padang City, Padang Pariaman, Tanah Datar, West Pasaman, Pasaman, Solok, Solok City, and South Pesisir. The total number of refugees has reached 11,820 families or 77,918 individuals, with the largest concentration in Padang City and South Pesisir Regency.

According to data from BMKG, Cyclone Senyar has triggered extreme rainfall in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra with an intensity exceeding 300 millimeters (mm) per day. The highest rainfall was recorded in Kuala District, Bireun, with an intensity of 411 mm per day on November 25-26, 2025, as stated by the Head of the Aceh Climatology Station, Muhajir.

The Director of Meteorology at BMKG, Andri Ramdhani, stated that in the last five years, several tropical cyclones have been recorded approaching the Indonesian region with increasing frequency. The presence of these cyclones has significant impacts, particularly extreme rainfall, strong winds, and high waves.

"The recent phenomenon of tropical cyclone Senyar is a very unusual occurrence as it formed at a low latitude of about 4.5 degrees North in the Malacca Strait, an area that climatologically should not support the formation of tropical cyclones," he said.