Death Toll in Sumatra Floods Rises to 837, With 545 Still Missing as Indonesia Ramps Up Emergency Response

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — The humanitarian crisis in Sumatra continued to intensify on Friday as Indonesia’s disaster agency reported a significant surge in casualties and displacement following the catastrophic floods and landslides across Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra.

Updated figures released by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and compiled by Datatrust show that 837 people have died, 545 remain missing, and 2,651 have been injured. The wider social impact is immense, with an estimated 3.3 million residents affected and roughly 576,000 forced to flee their homes.

Aceh remains the worst-hit, recording 325 deaths and 170 missing persons, along with 1,900 injured and nearly half a million displaced. West Sumatra has reported 200 fatalities and 212 missing, while North Sumatra has recorded 299 deaths and 163 missing as search teams continue to reach isolated areas.

BNPB also confirmed extensive physical damage, including more than 10,500 destroyed or heavily damaged houses and over 1,400 public facilities, among them hospitals, schools, worship centers, government buildings, and nearly 300 bridges.

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka traveled across the three provinces on Thursday to oversee the emergency response and assure residents that the central government is fully mobilized. In meetings with evacuees in Tapanuli Selatan, he expressed deep condolences and acknowledged gaps in the initial response.

“You are not alone. We are here for all of you,” he told affected families. He added that many survivors had expressed concerns about damaged homes and schools, and he apologized for any shortcomings in the early stages of relief delivery.

During his stop in Agam, West Sumatra, Gibran reiterated the government’s commitment to accelerating both emergency measures and long-term recovery. He said President Prabowo Subianto had instructed all agencies to intensify field operations and ensure assistance reaches even the most remote communities.

He also emphasized the importance of providing adequate food supplies, sanitation, and medical support in shelters, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

A major focus of the government’s directive involves restoring broken infrastructure. Gibran highlighted that many access roads and bridges remain severed, complicating logistics and hindering evacuation. He said local leaders have been instructed to immediately inventory damaged homes and public facilities so that reconstruction can begin as soon as conditions allow.

“The President has ordered the restoration of critical infrastructure. Damaged homes must be documented quickly — we will assist with rebuilding,” he said while speaking with officials in West Sumatra.

Despite the mobilization of personnel and aircraft from multiple agencies, conditions remain challenging, and authorities warn the death toll could continue rising as responders reach previously inaccessible districts.

With hundreds still missing and widespread damage across the three provinces, the coming days will be critical as the government seeks to stabilize conditions, reopen vital transport corridors, and accelerate relief for the hundreds of thousands of displaced residents.