Indonesia Sumatra floods and landslides kill over 1,030 as civil groups urge national disaster status
Indonesia’s disaster agency says floods and landslides across Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra have killed 1,030 people, as civil society groups urge the president to declare a national disaster amid mounting humanitarian and economic losses.
- BNPB reports the death toll has risen to 1,030, with 206 people still missing across three provinces.
- Civil society groups are urging a national disaster declaration, citing severe humanitarian and infrastructure impacts.
- The government says regional emergency status and existing national support remain sufficient.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has reported an increase in the death toll from floods and landslides that have struck Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, as search operations continue across the three provinces.
As of Monday, 15 December 2025, the number of fatalities has risen to 1,030.
Abdul Muhari, head of BNPB’s Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre, said the figure marked an increase of 14 deaths from the previous count of 1,016 recorded on Sunday.
“The number of fatalities has increased by 14, from 1,016 on Sunday to 1,030 today,” Abdul said during a press conference.
He said search efforts are currently underway in three districts in North Sumatra, four districts in West Sumatra and six districts in Aceh, with the highest number of newly reported deaths recorded in Aceh.
“There are seven additional deaths in Aceh, six in North Sumatra and one in West Sumatra,” Abdul said.
The number of people reported missing stands at 206, while the number of displaced residents has fallen from 624,670 to 608,940.
Aceh continues to account for the largest share of evacuees, with 572,862 people displaced, Abdul added.
According to data published on the BNPB data centre website, at least 186,488 houses have been damaged by the floods and landslides.
A total of 52 districts across the three provinces have been affected as emergency response and recovery operations continue.
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.
