December 18, 2025 | 01:21 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto visited disaster-stricken areas in West Sumatra on Thursday, December 18, 2025, to oversee recovery efforts following a series of devastating flash floods and landslides, announced State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi. The President first visited a refugee shelter at Elementary School or SD 05 Kayu Pasak Palembayan in Agam Regency to ensure the acceleration of aid distribution to displaced residents.
"Today, the President visited the provinces affected by the disaster. The plan for today is to visit several places. This is the first place, namely Selareh Aia, Palembayan, Agam Regency," said Prasetyo in an official statement from the Presidential Communication Team on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Prasetyo explained that this specific area is one of the zones most impacted by the disaster. After this stop, Prabowo is scheduled to continue his trip to Kayutanam in the Padang Pariaman Regency.
"After this, the President will visit Kayutanam in Padang Pariaman Regency. Also, if the weather permits and supports, he will go to Lembah Anai," Prasetyo added.
According to him, the visit to Lembah Anai is to directly see the completed Bailey Bridge. The government hopes this new bridge will speed up the recovery process for the region. Reliable infrastructure is seen as a key step in bringing life back to normal for the residents.
The President arrived at Minangkabau International Airport on Wednesday evening, signaling a hands-on approach to a crisis that has gripped three provinces: Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
As of Thursday morning, December 18, 2025, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported the death toll has reached 1,059, with another 192 people still missing after three weeks of emergency operations.
Over 7,000 individuals have been injured across the region. Aceh has borne the brunt of the casualties with 451 deaths, followed by North Sumatra with 364, and West Sumatra with 244.
Beyond the loss of life, the ecological disaster has decimated infrastructure. BNPB records show 147,236 houses damaged, alongside thousands of schools, bridges, and health facilities.
In response, President Prabowo has pledged immediate action on housing. Public Works Minister Maruarar Sirait reported that construction on 2,000 permanent homes is set to begin this Sunday, December 21. Funding for the reconstruction has been secured through significant budget efficiency measures implemented early in the current administration.
"We have saved hundreds of trillions," Prabowo stated, emphasizing that the government is fully prepared for the rehabilitation phase. To streamline these efforts, the President plans to establish a dedicated task force for Sumatra’s reconstruction, asserting that despite the severity, the situation remains under control through continuous monitoring and mobilization.
Novali Panji Nugroho contributed to this report
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