Prabowo Orders Ministry To Accelerate Handling Sumatra-Aceh Disasters

JAKARTA - Prabowo Subianto ordered related ministries/agencies to accelerate the process of handling natural disasters that are now hitting a number of regions in Indonesia.

The statement was made through the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) Bima Arya, after attending a limited meeting (ratas), at the Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta, Thursday, November 27.

"Yes, the President asked to coordinate quickly, especially coordinating priority programs in the field, synergies between ministries related to priority programs, year-end situations, and moving quickly to deal with disasters," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

According to Bima, the instruction was conveyed by the President to respond to the year-end situation which was colored by increased rainfall and potential hydrometeorological disasters.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, he said, has deployed special teams to a number of areas that are currently disaster-prone, including North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Aceh, and surrounding areas.

He said other affected areas, including West Sumatra, were also the attention of the President and related ministries/agencies.

"Because according to the BMKG, this November is indeed the peak," he said.

Regarding reports from the regions, Bima said that his party continues to monitor and coordinate intensively.

"We are coordinating, yes. We will continue to monitor the latest report," he said.

Bima emphasized that rapid coordination between ministries/agencies is the key to ensuring disaster management is effective, especially during the peak period of extreme weather.

Hydrometeorological disasters have now hit several regions in Indonesia, mainly centered in North Sumatra and Aceh, triggered by very high rain intensity due to the indirect influence of Tropical Cyclone Senyar in the Malacca Strait.

In Aceh, nine regencies/cities have declared a disaster emergency status, with Langsa City being one of the worst-affected areas that forced thousands of residents to flee.

Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, at least 13 districts/cities face the expansion of the impact of hydrometeorological disasters, which include flash floods and landslides, requiring a quick response from local authorities.

Extreme weather early warning was also issued by BMKG for other provinces, including West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, as well as several areas in Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, with the potential for heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds.