North Sumatra Flash Flood Kills 62 Residents, Sibolga Most

Illustration of post-flood condiction in Sumatra (doc BNPB)

The number of fatalities due to flash floods and landslides that hit a number of areas in North Sumatra continues to grow. As of Friday, November 28, a total of 62 people were reported to have died, with the most victims coming from Sibolga City as many as 33 people.

The North Sumatra Regional Police (Polda Sumut) said that the hydrometeorological disasters that occurred simultaneously in various areas also left dozens of residents missing and hundreds injured.

Head of Public Relations of the North Sumatra Police, Kombes Pol Ferry Walintukan, said there were 367 disaster points in the jurisdiction of the North Sumatra Police which were affected by flash floods and landslides.

"Of the 367 disaster sites, temporary data recorded 62 deaths. The most were in Sibolga with 33 people," said Ferry.

The total number of victims reached 222 people, consisting of 62 deaths, 82 injuries, and 65 people are still being searched. Most missing victims are also in Sibolga," he added.

Apart from Sibolga, a number of other areas also recorded the death toll, namely Tapanuli Tengah four people, South Tapanuli 18 people, Humbang Hasundutan two people, Pakpak Bharat two people, Padangsidimpuan one person, South Nias one person, and Binjai one person.

To this day, a joint team from the TNI, North Sumatra Police, Basarnas, and BPBD have continued to search for dozens of residents who have not been found. Officers also work to get rid of landslide material that cuts road access in various locations, thus hampering the distribution of aid.

As part of the recovery effort, the North Sumatra Police also deployed mobile communication vehicles (comob) to provide free wifi services for flood victims in Central Tapanuli. This facility is prepared so that survivors can continue to communicate with their families amid disruption of the telecommunications network.

The flash floods and landslides that hit a number of areas in North Sumatra have become one of the deadliest disasters in recent years, with a large scale of damage and the ongoing search process.