Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Friday offered condolences to victims of the devastating floods and landslides that have struck Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, as the confirmed death toll reached 72 and is expected to rise.
Speaking before thousands of teachers at the National Teachers' Day 2025 commemoration at Indonesia Arena in the Gelora Bung Karno complex, Prabowo invited attendees to pray for the victims and stressed that emergency operations were underway from the earliest hours of the crisis.
"From the first day, we have sent assistance by land and air. But the situation is extremely difficult, with many roads cut off. Weather conditions have also made it hard for helicopters and aircraft to land," he said. The government deployed three C-130 Hercules aircraft and one A400M on Friday morning to speed up the delivery of logistics and the mobilization of response teams.
Prabowo described the disaster as a clear reminder of the worsening threats of climate change and environmental destruction. He urged that environmental awareness be strengthened in school curricula, arguing that schools must shape a generation that protects forests, rivers, and ecosystems. "We must protect our environment, prevent deforestation, and keep our rivers clean," he said.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported 72 deaths across the three provinces, with more victims expected as search and data collection continue. Communication breakdowns in several districts have slowed updates. "We are still coordinating with local governments. Reporting is hampered because communication access has not yet been restored," said BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari.
Weather clears after cloud-seeding efforts
BNPB confirmed that weather conditions in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh have significantly improved following a large-scale cloud-seeding operation aimed at reducing the extreme rainfall that triggered the floods and landslides.
BNPB chief Suharyanto delivered the update during a press briefing in Medan on Friday afternoon, accompanied by North Sumatra Police Chief Insp. Gen. Whisnu Hermawan Februanto and BNPB's deputy for emergency response.
"North Sumatra has suffered the heaviest impact. The province was hit by extreme rainfall influenced by Cyclone Senyar and Cyclone Koto, two weather phenomena rarely seen in northern Sumatra," Suharyanto said.
He added that conditions have begun to stabilize as the Meteorology Agency confirmed Cyclone Senyar has shifted away from Indonesia toward Malaysia. BNPB has also deployed cloud-seeding operations to accelerate weather improvement and prevent further extreme rainfall.
"As of today, the weather in North Sumatra is clear with no rain. We are also monitoring West Sumatra and Aceh, and both areas are clear," he said.
Three aircraft have been assigned for cloud-seeding operations across the three provinces – one each in West Sumatra, North Sumatra, and Aceh – with an additional aircraft on standby in case of rising rainfall in any area.
Suharyanto said the extreme rainfall that triggered the disaster has likely passed, but cloud-seeding operations will continue to prevent the formation of large rain clouds in the coming days.
The government's focus is now shifting toward recovery efforts and faster distribution of logistical aid. "North Sumatra is the priority because it was the earliest and hardest hit," he said.