TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Three Indonesian provinces in the region of Sumatra have not fully recovered after being hit by flash floods and landslides over the past week. The three affected areas are Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. The number of casualties due to this disaster continues to rise.
The Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lieutenant General Suharyanto, stated that North Sumatra is the most severely affected area. "Compared to West Sumatra and Aceh, which have shown more progress by the third day, especially now that there is no more rainfall," Suharyanto said in a virtual press conference on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Here is a summary of the developments in handling the floods and landslides in these three provinces:
Death Toll Reaches 442 People
BNPB recorded the current death toll at 442 people from the three affected provinces. Meanwhile, the number of missing persons is currently noted at 402.
Suharyanto stated that the most casualties were in North Sumatra with 217 deaths and 209 missing. Meanwhile, in West Sumatra, at least 129 people were reported dead, with 118 still missing. In Aceh, BNPB recorded a death toll of 96 people and 75 others missing.
Looting Occurred in Various Areas
Several residents in various areas looted food supplies from various places due to delayed distribution of aid. Suharyanto mentioned that looting occurred in Aceh Tamiang, Aceh, and Tapanuli Tengah, North Sumatra.
According to him, the BNPB team also faced a group of people attempting to take the aid before distribution. "In Tapanuli Tengah, when we were distributing aid at Pinangsari Airport, there was a group of people trying to take the aid," Suharyanto said on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Suharyanto stated that several people tried to take aid from the hands of the officers. Faced with this situation, Suharyanto ordered the officers to continue distributing aid to the people. Suharyanto believes the actions of the group were not driven by ill intentions. "Perhaps because it had been several hours, or maybe some had not eaten for days, which made it appear (like looting)," he said.
Aid Sent via Sea Route
Several flood and landslide-affected areas in Aceh Province are difficult to access due to damaged road infrastructure. Therefore, the BNPB sent logistic aid and equipment via sea routes. The BNPB dispatched the aid from Ulee Lhueu Port in Banda Aceh using the Express Bahari ship on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
"The planned aid via sea route will reach five areas," said the Head of Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Center of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Abdul Muhari, today.
Muhari stated that the total aid sent weighed 27 tons. The logistics will reach five areas, namely Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, East Aceh, Langsa City, and Aceh Tamiang. The aid will stop at two ports to reach these five locations. These are Krengkuku Port to reach North Aceh, Lhoksumawe, and Kuala Langsa Port to reach Langsa City, East Aceh, and Aceh Tamiang.
Aid Distributed Using Airdrop Method
Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin deployed the airdrop method to expedite aid distribution for flood and landslide victims in Aceh and other isolated areas in Sumatra. According to Sjafrie, the field conditions showed that many refugees were having difficulty obtaining aid due to disconnected roads and bridges to the affected locations.
Airdrop is one of the ways to distribute aid by dropping it from aircraft to the citizens. "The delivery method is to be fast, the TNI (Indonesian Army) Commander will airdrop, received by soldiers and directly distributed to the refugees. So, the officers will deliver it on-site," said Sjafrie in a video statement released by the Defense Information Bureau on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
Government Sends 11 Helicopters
Following the accelerated phase of logistic distribution, the government will proceed to address the safety, health, and urgent needs of the refugees, including trauma healing services and basic infrastructure recovery. The central government has sent eleven helicopters from Jakarta to expedite the handling of the flood and landslide disaster in northern Sumatra.
"As of today, the government has sent a total of 11 TNI and Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency) helicopters from Jakarta to the disaster-affected areas," said Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya in his written statement on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
Starlink Internet Access Opened
The Aceh Regional Police installed Starlink devices to provide free internet access to the flood and landslide-affected residents. The installation of the internet network was done after residents were isolated for about five days due to a disconnected internet network.
Now, residents can reconnect with their families.
The Aceh Regional Police have installed two Starlink devices in Aceh Province. One unit is operated in Tingkeum Village, Kuta Blang District, Bireuen Regency, by the Aceh Regional Police's ICT Division.
Sultan Abdurrahman, and Annisa Febiola contributed to the writing of this article.
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