Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Addin Anugrah Siwi, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra – President Prabowo Subianto spent New Year's Eve in South Tapanuli Regency, one of the areas hardest hit by floods and landslides in Sumatra, choosing to welcome the year alongside affected residents, officials said on Wednesday.
During the visit, Prabowo inspected the construction of an emergency bridge over the Garoga River, built to restore connectivity after the original bridge was destroyed by flash floods. The 44-meter structure serves as a vital link between Central Tapanuli and South Tapanuli, and is a key route for daily mobility and logistics distribution.
State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the president wanted to ensure post-disaster infrastructure recovery was progressing effectively and that residents' transportation access could be restored as quickly as possible.
He added that the government remains fully committed to overseeing disaster response and recovery efforts across the three affected provinces – Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
"This visit underscores President Prabowo Subianto's commitment to remaining on the front line of disaster recovery efforts to safeguard the welfare and safety of affected communities," Prasetyo said.
Prabowo is scheduled to continue his visit to Aceh on the first day of 2026. According to Teddy Indra Wijaya, the president stayed overnight in South Tapanuli to mark New Year's Eve with local residents before departing for Aceh on Thursday morning.
The Aceh visit will include an inspection of permanent housing projects for displaced residents in Aceh Tamiang. Teddy said the housing program is expected to deliver around 500 to 600 units, funded by Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, under direct instruction from the president.
"These homes are being built by Danantara at the president's direction. When we visit tomorrow, 500 to 600 housing units should already be completed," Teddy said.
On Wednesday evening, Prabowo was scheduled to share a communal dinner with residents, followed by an outdoor film screening. He was not expected to remain until midnight, officials said, due to his early-morning departure for Aceh.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/prabowo-visits-disasterhit-sumatra-skips-palace-new-year-celebratio