December 5, 2025 | 04:44 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ten days after floods and landslides devastated parts of North Sumatra, the sounds of children, both laughter and distress, now fill an evacuation center in the multipurpose building of Pandan Sub-district, Tapanuli Tengah Regency. However, several children have begun exhibiting various symptoms of illness.
Jenny Efrida Sirait, a resident of Aek Sitio-tio Sub-district, Pandan, confirmed that her two children recently developed symptoms. Her family has been staying at the evacuation center since November 25, 2025.
"My youngest child had a fever, cough, and cold symptoms," Jenny shared on Friday, December 5, 2025. She noted that both her older and younger children were suffering from multiple ailments.
"Maybe due to delayed meals, my child caught a chill and began vomiting," she explained. "Fortunately, they have all received treatment now."
In the same location, Muhammad Ilham, also a resident of Aek Sitio-tio, mentioned that his three children were experiencing fever symptoms. "It might be due to the crowded conditions here at the evacuation center; we're unsure of the exact cause," said Ilham.
Despite the health concerns, Ilham and his family must remain at the center because their home is still buried under thick mud deposits from the flash floods. "I plan to go back and start cleaning the mud in about four to five days," he added.
Floods and landslides struck 51 regencies and cities across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra last Wednesday. Data released by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Thursday, December 4, 2025, tragically indicated that the disaster's death toll across Sumatra had reached 836, with hundreds more reported missing.
Specifically, in South Tapanuli Regency, the local Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) recorded 89 fatalities and 109 people still missing, with 8,774 people evacuated.
Mariati Simanulang, the Acting Head of the Social Agency of Central Tapanuli Regency, strongly urged evacuee families with children to utilize the health command post for regular check-ups, emphasizing that all medical services and treatments are provided free of charge. "Please do not hesitate to seek regular health check-ups," Mariati stressed.
As of Thursday, December 4, 2025, an estimated 800 affected residents remain at the Central Tapanuli evacuation center. This figure marks a significant reduction from the 2,500 evacuees recorded the day prior.
Read: Defense Ministry Deploys Four Vehicles to Distribute Logistics in Sumatra Disaster Zones
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