ASEANEWS HEADLINE-CLIMATE CHANGE | SUMATRA, Indonesia: Frustration grows over govt’s poor disaster response

University students in Banda Aceh, Aceh, gather humanitarian aid for survivors of the northern Sumatra floods and landslides on Dec. 4, 2025. (Antara/Irwansyah Putra)

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.WATCH VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVHkaSBkbDg

Indonesia bucks pressure to label floods national disaster | AFP

Indonesia’s government is resisting growing pressure to declare a national disaster over devastating floods that killed hundreds of people and laid waste to parts of Sumatra island. Those in favour argue the decision would free up resources and help coordinate the response. But analysts say the government may fear a declaration could spook investors or suggest it was not up to the task of responding to the disaster.

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A week after cyclone-induced floods and landslides hit three provinces in Sumatra, authorities are still scrambling to find those who are missing and to distribute aid, as several affected areas remain still cut off and awaiting necessary supplies.

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T he government and various officials have come under fire over their poor response, insensitive remarks and performative visits amid the northern Sumatra floods and landslides, fueling public frustration about the crisis management by authorities.

Floods and landslides struck many parts of Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra after Tropical Cyclone Senyar, a rare storm forming in the Malacca Strait, hit Sumatra Island on Nov. 25.

Thousands of homes and other buildings, as well as roads and bridges connecting regions across the three provinces, were destroyed.

At least 836 people had been killed and 518 others remained missing as of Thursday, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

The largest number of fatalities was recorded in Aceh with 325 dead.

A week after the storm made its landfall in Sumatra, the government is still scrambling to find those missing and distribute aid, as several affected areas remain cut off and awaiting supplies from authorities.

One of these is Nagan Raya regency in Aceh, where nearly 8,500 people were displaced by floods and landslides hitting

A village is seen from above on Dec. 2 following a flash flood in Batang Toru district, South Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra. (Reuters/Stringer)

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Nagan Raya Regent Teuku Raja Keumangan noted that Beutong Ateuh Banggalang district in the regency, which has a population of 2,100, was still cut off as of Thursday, after flash

Population of 2,100, was still cut off as of Thursday, after flash floods destroyed roads and bridges leading to it.

He called for assistance from the Aceh provincial administration and the central government to open access to the cut-off district.

People wade through the floodwater in the aftermath of flash floods at Tukka village, Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, on December 2, 2025. The death toll from floods and landslides that have struck Indonesia’s Sumatra island since last week has risen to 712, the National Disaster Management Agency said on December 2. (AFP/YT Hariono)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10nP-e53b-4

Indonesia Floods UNSEEN VIDEOS:  How 750+ Killed in Sumatra? Scary RAW Footage Reveals Devastation

 

Our local capacity, both in terms of budget and equipment, is no longer sufficient to respond to the scale of emergency,”

Keumangan said in a phone interview with The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10nP-e53b-4

Indonesia Floods UNSEEN VIDEOS:  How 750+ Killed in Sumatra? Scary RAW Footage Reveals Devastation

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Jakarta Fri, December 5, 2025