The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has confirmed that the scale of damage in Sumatra has reached an unprecedented level: nearly 830 homes have suffered practically irreparable damage and about 3,200 families have been directly affected. These estimates arise from the latest observations, which show the continuing impact of heavy rainfall on the island and raise concern about the potential for new natural disasters. Continued heavy rains and the constant threat of severe weather keep the country on high alert, with the situation evolving in different areas of Sumatra each day as official figures are updated. In this context, Central News, as reported by BNPB and published by local media such as Compass and Republic, highlights the figure of more than 440 dead and more than 400 missing as a result of this series of floods.
According to the survey published by the National Disaster Control Office on Sunday, the total number of deaths reaches at least 442 people, while the number of injured people reaches 464, and 402 others are still missing on the island of Sumatra. The detailed report published by media outlets such as Compass and Republic reflects a significant increase in the number of victims compared to the report submitted the previous day: during the day on Saturday, more than 120 deaths were added to the tally, and more than a hundred new missing persons to the official tally of the state of emergency. The authorities indicate that the number of victims already exceeds one million and that approximately 290,000 residents were forced to evacuate their homes, and in some cases they initially fled by their own means and then gradually moved to reception centers and shelters established in safer areas.
BNPB Director Suharyanto explained that the deaths were distributed among different regions in Sumatra. Aceh is among the most affected areas, with 96 people killed and 75 others missing. Other provinces such as North Sumatra had the biggest losses, with 217 deaths and 209 missing, while West Sumatra had 129 deaths and 118 missing, according to data provided by the agency and published by media outlets such as Kompas. These figures illustrate the regional complexity of the disaster and reveal the seriousness of the emergency in large sectors of the island.
The influx of displaced people into shelters continues to increase, as rainfall and damage to basic infrastructure limit people’s ability to return to their homes. As the BNPB Director explained in statements to the media, the need for shelter for displaced people is increasing day by day, which requires enhanced logistical and social care support from the Indonesian authorities and participating organizations.
To address the emergency, the state’s response includes a significant mobilization of security and assistance personnel. Brigadier General Trunyodo Wisnu told Andeko Republic that the National Police has 87,924 active agents across the country, with thousands of troops deployed as a priority in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, the worst affected areas. In this sense, the opening of the Emergency Coordination Center at the Central Police Station Bandok Kapi is part of the adopted strategy, with the aim of improving the operational response to the humanitarian crisis.
The BNPB, according to Compass, organizes the distribution of basic supplies adapted to the needs of the most vulnerable populations, such as kits for minors and mothers, medicines, raincoats and blankets, along with groceries, generators, masks and portable solar energy systems. The enhanced assistance includes the provision of dozens of rubber boats for evacuation, hundreds of life jackets, tent structures, beds and tools necessary for working on the ground, such as shovels and other basic rescue equipment.
Bad weather conditions complicate the work of emergency teams. The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency has reported a tropical cyclone in the area, an element that increases the risk of new heavy rains and increases the risk to rescuers and affected communities. This meteorological context could prolong periods of rainfall and make efforts to trace missing persons and transport humanitarian aid difficult, BNPB said.
The scale of the disaster has transformed vast swathes of Sumatra. Many families are suffering the consequences of the destruction of their homes, with basic services such as electricity supply and access to drinking water seriously affected, according to records published by BNPB. The combination of the forced movement of hundreds of thousands of people and the threat of an unstable climate has meant that the situation remains open, under constant review by authorities and international organisations.
As CNN Indonesia reported, the response is currently focused on searching for missing persons, providing basic assistance to displaced people, and rebuilding critical infrastructure. The authorities maintain an online monitoring and updating system, through which they communicate news to the public and coordinate aid shipments with other agencies, both national and international. BNPB asks residents to stay attentive to official updates and follow protection instructions, keeping in mind that bad weather may continue or worsen in the coming days.
According to the consolidated balance sheets, the emergency in Sumatra in terms of the number of dead and the number of missing is one of the most serious in the modern history of the island. Institutional efforts are focused on containing the crisis and assisting the recovery of victims, while weather conditions and poor infrastructure continue to present challenges for teams working in the area, as highlighted by BNPB and organizations consulted by local media.