The State Acts Swiftly to Handle the Sumatra Floods, President Prabowo Orders Maximum Response
By: Benny Salim)
The Indonesian government has demonstrated a swift and well-coordinated response in addressing the floods and landslides that struck Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
Under the direct instruction of President Prabowo Subianto, all levels of government—both central and regional—have consolidated a series of emergency-response measures with seriousness, speed, and strong coordination, while keeping public safety as the top priority. This approach reinforces the state’s firm presence in times of crisis.
Therefore, the public is urged to remain vigilant and discerning in evaluating information. Amid the government’s rapid disaster-handling efforts, irresponsible groups have attempted to politicize and provoke issues that could potentially disrupt national stability.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, Pratikno, stated that the President has issued firm directives for emergency response to run in parallel with preparations for post-disaster recovery.
The government is accelerating the restoration of infrastructure and essential services to ensure that social and economic activities can resume as quickly as possible. During the emergency phase, both central and regional governments continue working around the clock, even as casualty data is still being collected and updated to ensure accuracy.
The President’s instructions were followed up through inter-ministerial and inter-agency meetings discussing field conditions, obstacles in aid distribution, and urgent needs of affected communities.
The government is focusing attention on areas with disrupted access, damaged roads and bridges, and interruptions to public services. This focus reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring no resident is left behind in receiving state assistance.
From a meteorological standpoint, BMKG Deputy for Meteorology, Guswanto, explained that Tropical Cyclone Senyar was the primary driver of extreme rainfall, strong winds, and disruptions to marine transport in northern and western Sumatra.
The storm system intensified as it moved from the open sea toward land, triggering floods and landslides in several densely populated regions. Although the main cyclone has weakened, heavy rainfall remains likely due to convective cloud systems over the Indian Ocean. Heightened vigilance is still required, especially in Mandailing Natal and parts of West Sumatra.
The unstable weather has caused worsening infrastructure damage and isolated several areas. Reports from BNPB and regional governments indicate collapsed bridges, landslide-blocked roads, and obstructed land-based logistics distribution. These conditions have prompted the government to prepare alternative aid delivery via air routes to ensure the population’s basic needs are met swiftly.
Regarding search and rescue operations, the Head of Basarnas, Air Marshal TNI Mohammad Syafii, stated that SAR missions are being conducted intensively across the three affected provinces.
Eight simultaneous operations have been deployed, mobilizing all available resources, including personnel from unaffected SAR offices. Basarnas has dispatched specialized teams and used sea, land, and technological assets to reach isolated victims and those still unaccounted for.
These SAR operations prioritize saving lives—both those trapped and those missing. Road access disruptions have not halted rescue efforts; instead, teams are employing adaptive evacuation methods suited to the terrain and weather. Casualty data is being updated routinely in each area to ensure needs-based response.
The disaster-emergency status declared by the affected regions provides a legal foundation for the mobilization of national resources. Pratikno emphasized that the status enables the central government to deliver full support without administrative barriers, including the use of the Ready-to-Use Fund and flexible regional budget reallocation. This policy fosters faster and more targeted response, especially in heavily impacted locations.
Beyond emergency response, the government highlights the importance of long-term solutions addressing root causes. Land-use planning, forest-area rehabilitation, optimization of retention reservoirs, and river-flow management are becoming strategic agendas to prevent repeat disasters. This upstream-to-downstream approach requires policy consistency and sustained cross-sector support.
Amid these extensive efforts, the government warns that humanitarian disasters must not be exploited for political provocation or partisan interests. Narratives that take advantage of victims’ suffering for group agendas threaten social solidarity and disrupt emergency response focus. Rejecting the politicization of disasters is a shared moral obligation to protect humanitarian space.
President Prabowo’s directives have been translated into concrete actions on the ground—from saving lives, restoring access, to preparing reconstruction. The state’s presence through coordinated efforts delivers a strong message: the safety of the people stands above all interests.
In critical situations such as natural disasters, success is measured not only by response speed, but also by the nation’s ability to maintain unity and prioritize humanitarian values. (*)
The writer is a social observer.
