Flood and landslide death toll rises to 1,071 across three Indonesian provinces

The death toll from floods and landslides in West Sumatra, North Sumatra and Aceh continued to rise on Friday after three more bodies were recovered during search operations, authorities said.

“As of this afternoon, December 19, the total number of fatalities across the three provinces has increased by three, from 1,068 to 1,071,” Abdul Muhari, head of the Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre at the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), told a press conference.

As of December 18, fatalities stood at 455 in Aceh, 369 in North Sumatra and 247 in West Sumatra.

BNPB data shows 185 people remain missing, while the number of residents still displaced has fallen to 526,868 from 537,185 a day earlier. Abdul said 27 districts and cities remain under emergency status, adding that the government has begun accelerating the construction of permanent and temporary housing for affected communities.

Civil Society Coalition Urges National Disaster Status for Sumatra Floods

A coalition of 113 civil society organisations has issued a legal notice calling on President Prabowo Subianto to declare the severe floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra a national disaster.

In a statement released by the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), the coalition cited the high number of casualties, widespread infrastructure damage and mounting socio-economic losses, arguing that the scale of the crisis exceeds the capacity of local governments.

YLBHI chair Muhammad Isnur warned that conditions in shelters remain highly vulnerable, particularly for women, children, older persons and people with disabilities, amid limited access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare.

The coalition said damaged roads and disrupted communications have hampered evacuations, medical response and logistics, leaving several districts isolated and worsening the humanitarian situation.

The coalition said a national disaster declaration would enable full central government intervention, including national funding, technical assistance and integrated reconstruction planning, as well as cross-regional investigations into environmental and governance failures.

President Prabowo, however, has said the current regional emergency status remains sufficient to manage the floods and landslides, stating during a visit to Central Tapanuli on 1 December 2025 that authorities continue to monitor developments closely.