TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search results
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search resultsMilitary steps up relief efforts for flood-hit Sumatra; death toll above 860
The military has erected at least 10 portable bridges, called "Bailey bridges", in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra provinces to help with the distribution of food and aid supplies to isolated residents, Major General Freddy Ardianzah told reporters on Friday.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Residents carry supplies distributed by Indonesian Air Force personnel in flood affected areas in Bener Meriah district, Aceh province on December 4, 2025. (AFP/Chaideer Mahyuddin)
T
he Indonesian Military stepped up its relief efforts in three provinces on Sumatra island that have been devastated by deadly floods and landslides, and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka apologised for shortcomings in the response to last week's disaster.
The military has erected at least 10 portable bridges, called "Bailey bridges", in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra provinces to help with the distribution of food and aid supplies to isolated residents, Major General Freddy Ardianzah told reporters on Friday.
"The construction of these bridges is crucial to distribute logistics. Some of the roads are still blocked so the aid is yet to reach those affected by the disaster," he said.
Freddy said the military was also deploying mobile reverse osmosis systems, which make polluted water safe to drink, and would continue to make airdrops of food and medications to residents still cut off from road access.
The death toll from last week's cyclone and subsequent severe flooding and landslides rose to 867 people on Friday afternoon with 521 listed as missing, government data showed. The storm systems also killed about 200 people in southern Thailand and Malaysia.
Local government officials on Sumatra have been calling on the government to declare a national emergency to free up additional funds for rescue and relief efforts.
Earlier this week, President Prabowo Subianto had said the situation was improving and current arrangements were sufficient, but his deputy took a different view after visiting affected areas on Thursday.
"I apologise. You are not alone, the people of Sumatra are not alone," Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka said in a statement after his visit.
"We will ensure that those in the evacuation centres receive proper care. Many have complained about issues with schools and housing, we will assist you with that. Thank you, and once again, I sincerely apologise."
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency warned Aceh could see "very heavy rain" through Saturday, with North and West Sumatra also at risk.
It was again raining hard in Aceh's capital, Banda Aceh, an AFP correspondent said.
Flood victims said further rain was likely to bring fresh misery.
"We are still worried... If the rain comes again, where can we go? Where can we evacuate?" asked Rumita.
An aid organisation working in Sumatra said some flood areas were still unreachable, adding the "disaster situation is complex."
"The situation is very dire and heartbreaking due to the difficulty in accessing aid," said Nanang Subana Dirja, Chief Executive of Islamic Relief Indonesia.
"In some places, water still has not receded. Power outages and unstable signals often disrupt communication for us and our staff," Nanang said.
