ATMs Don't Work, Traders In West Aceh Only Receive Cash Transactions, Residents Have Difficulty

The Independent Cash Machine (ATM) in a bank located on Jalan Imam Bonjol Meulaboh, West Aceh, is not functioning due to a power outage. As of Saturday (6/12/2025), people in the area had difficulty getting cash because many ATM machines were out due to the absence of electricity. (ANTARA/Teuku Dedi Iskandar)

JAKARTA - The people of West Aceh Regency are currently having difficulty getting cash because ATM machines in a number of locations in the area are not functioning, among others, because the supply of electricity has not fully recovered.

"We really panicked if this blackout condition continues to occur, it is very difficult to withdraw cash now," said Ovis, a resident of Meulaboh, the capital of West Aceh Regency, ANTARA, Sunday, December 7.

According to him, the impact of the power outage resulted in a number of ATM machines not operating optimally because there was no power supply/electric power supply.

In addition, even if there are ATMs that are active, they cannot be used optimally by the public because ATM machines have internet network problems.

The same thing was conveyed by Sabrina, a housewife from Meulaboh, West Aceh Regency who admitted that it was difficult to withdraw cash at ATMs because many ATM machines died or did not work.

"It's hard to shop right now, traders don't accept non-cash payments, they want to use cash," he said.

If people don't have cash, traders don't want to serve buyers because they require payments using cash to pay for groceries.

Previously, West Aceh Regent Tarmizi said that until now all public service centers and government in his area were disrupted due to power outages that had occurred since Wednesday, November 26, last week due to the flash flood disaster.

"All services are disrupted, very disturbed," said West Aceh Regent Tarmizi to ANTARA in Meulaboh.

He said the impact of blackouts had resulted in public administration services unable to be served optimally, due to the absence of electricity.

In addition, disturbances in cellular telecommunications facilities and internet services also add to service problems in the community.

Tarmizi admitted that the impact of blackouts for more than a week has caused disruptions in various government activities, public services to community economic activities.