November 30, 2025 | 08:01 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Police Headquarters has dispatched eight Starlink satellite internet devices to areas devastated by floods in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Internet access was severely disrupted in several regions following the severe floods.
Of the eight Starlink units, two were sent to Aceh, four to North Sumatra, and two to West Sumatra. The Aceh Regional Police reported that local residents were now able to contact their families after four days without internet signal.
"They are very enthusiastic about using the WiFi access we provided," said Ipda Edi Amran, who leads the Aceh Regional Police Information and Communication Technology team, in their official statement on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Internet networks in several regions of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra were disabled due to floods and landslides. Hundreds of people were reported dead in the disaster. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded that the death toll and missing persons had reached hundreds as of Saturday, November 29, 2025.
Head of BNPB Lieutenant General Suharyanto conveyed this information in a virtual press conference broadcast on BNPB's YouTube channel on Sunday, November 30, 2025. "North Sumatra has now reached 166 fatalities," he stated.
According to Suharyanto, a joint team led by the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) found 60 bodies within the last 24 hours. The search process is still ongoing.
Hundreds of people are also reported missing across the affected areas:
- North Sumatra: 143 people are still missing.
- Aceh: There were 54 casualties reported, and 55 others are still missing.
- West Sumatra: The reported casualties were 94, while 87 people are still being searched for.
Government Response and Aid
Currently, road access is paralyzed in various areas. This condition has forced thousands of residents to take refuge while waiting for logistical assistance.
President Prabowo Subianto stated that the central government had sent aid via both land and air routes, deploying three Hercules C-130 aircraft and one A400 aircraft.
The Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG), which typically runs the Free Nutritious Meal program, has been utilized as public kitchens to meet the food needs of the residents. These operating kitchens include SPPG Daulat Lae-Langge, SPPG Cengkeh Turi Binjai Utara, and SPPG Subulussalam.
The government also deployed rubber boats for evacuation, refugee tents, generator sets as emergency power sources, and communication devices for field operations.
To expedite the flood and landslide disaster response, the central government sent 11 helicopters from Jakarta to the provinces of Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya confirmed the deployment on Saturday, November 29, 2025. "As of today, the government has sent a total of 11 TNI and Basarnas helicopters from Jakarta to the disaster-affected areas," Teddy wrote in his statement.
Sultan Abdurrahman and Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to this report
Editor’s Choice: North Sumatra Flood Disaster Update: 1,090 Casualties, 176 Fatalities
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