3 Regents In Aceh Express Unable To Handle Flash Floods, Central Government Takes Over

Akes landslides can be passed after the flash floods at the Aceh Sumatra border (doc BNPB)

JAKARTA Three regional heads in Aceh, namely Central Aceh Regent Haili Yoga, South Aceh Regent Mirwan MS, and Pidie Jaya Regent Sibral Malasyi, stated that they were unable to handle the impact of flash floods and landslides that hit their area. The condition of extensive damage and limited resources is the main reason the regional heads asked for the intervention of the central government.

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian emphasized that the central government had intervened from the start and would continue to help the affected areas, regardless of the inability statement. He said disaster management did not wait for an official request from the local government.

"The central government, whether he or she still says he can afford it, whether he wants to say surrender, can't afford it, will definitely continue to work, help and it has been since the first day," Tito said in

Tito explained that the central government had also assessed the ability of each region to deal with disasters. According to him, even areas that are considered capable of still getting support from the center.

"We self-assess which ones are capable, which ones are not. We think we can help. Moreover, those who say they can't afford it and it's natural for them to say that because they are in the most difficult areas," he said.

Data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as of Tuesday showed that the number of fatalities due to flash floods and landslides in Sumatra reached 744 people, while the other 551 were still missing. The disaster also caused a number of areas in three provinces to remain isolated.

In Aceh, areas that are still cut off by land access include Aceh Tamiang, Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, and Gayo Lues. Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, areas that are still difficult to access include Sibolga, parts of South Tapanuli, and parts of North Tapanuli.

In West Sumatra, isolated areas include Palembayan and Tanjung Mutiara sub-districts in Agam Regency, Bayang District in Pesisir Selatan Regency, as well as Malalo District in Solok Regency.

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