Desak Status Bencana Nasional Di Sumatra, Komisi II DPR: Kondisi Pemda Terdampak Sudah Palis

Residents pray in damaged houses affected by flash floods in Aek Garoga Village, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, Sunday 30 November 2025. (ANTARA PHOTO-Yudi Manar)

Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dede Yusuf Macan Effendi, urged the Government to immediately establish national disaster status for flash floods and landslides in Aceh and North Sumatra and West Sumatra.

Moreover, said Dede, victims of natural disasters on the island of Sumatra have reached 442 people.

"We really support this condition that this condition has become a national disaster. Because if we talk about a national disaster, then all devices, both domestic government, provincial and central governments, must work hand in hand," said Dede Yusuf at the Parliament Complex, Monday, December 1.

"Because currently the number of victims has reached more than 300. Then also property or infrastructure is countless. What we need to pay attention to is that currently the condition of the local government is paralyzed. Almost partially paralyzed, and we need all handling well," he continued.

Dede said Commission II of the DPR encourages commission partners, especially the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) to coordinate with local governments so that public services continue to run properly.

"Other areas that are currently still, say they have not been affected by a disaster, can participate in handling public services that occur," said Dede.

"Because I heard that the electricity went out, then the internet went out, and so on. Even though there are hospitals there, schools must also continue to run as they should," continued the Democrat Legislator from the West Java electoral district.

Dede admitted that he had checked with the BNPP (Border Management National Agency) that this institution did not enter a disaster area because it was not a border area.

"However, we also have to look at mitigation in the future. Because the current weather conditions are still not predictable. With very high rainfall, in some countries I have heard that Thailand's cyclones and others are also quite high. We have to do mitigation," he said.

Dede is grateful for the information that the Coordinating Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, has planned to carry out artificial weather, in order to prevent rainfall from being too high.

"But of course mitigation must still be carried out. Not only to areas that are Central Tapanuli, Sibolga, and others, but the surrounding area. Because of Sumatra's condition, many forests have changed their functions to plantations. And this can happen in several other areas," concluded Dede Yusuf.