Indonesia emergency command post established in North Tapanuli to expedite aid distribution amid severe floods and landslides.
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| Evacuees affected by flash floods rest in emergency tents in Nagari Salareh Aia Timur, Palembayan, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, on November 30, 2025. Photo by Wahdi Septiawan/Antara |
Indonesia has established an Indonesia emergency command post in North Tapanuli to speed up relief operations after a series of destructive floods and landslides swept through several districts in North Sumatra, killing dozens and displacing thousands. The creation of the Indonesia emergency command post reflects the central government’s urgent push to reinforce regional authorities, whose limited resources have been stretched by continuous extreme rainfall, collapsed infrastructure, and expanding humanitarian needs. Officials say the command center is currently the core of coordination efforts, enabling faster decision-making and more efficient mobilization of supplies, equipment, and personnel to the hardest-hit areas.
Director General of Regional Administration Safrizal Zakaria Ali announced on Sunday that the Indonesia emergency command post was fully operational at the North Tapanuli district head office. He said the post was designed to function as a centralized hub guiding field operations, gathering updated information, and ensuring rapid deployment of emergency teams across multiple affected districts. According to Safrizal, emergency tents, logistics units, and support staff were sent to North Tapanuli following torrential rain on November 24–25 that inundated Central Tapanuli, Sibolga City, South Tapanuli, and North Tapanuli.
Five emergency tents were erected around the command post to support coordination, temporary shelter, and logistical operations. Alongside these facilities, the central government delivered more than 16.160 tons of aid supplies, including ready-to-eat meals, sleeping mats, hygiene kits, and large refugee tents for families who lost their homes or were forced to evacuate.
Safrizal said that establishing an Indonesia emergency command post was essential because local governments were facing escalating logistical constraints, worsening transport disruptions, and staff shortages. He stressed that the Ministry of Home Affairs would continue reinforcing regional authorities with additional personnel, material support, and response infrastructure to maintain a steady flow of assistance into communities cut off by landslides and rising waters.
Preliminary assessments reveal that Central Tapanuli is among the most severely affected areas, with catastrophic damage to homes, roads, and bridges. Authorities confirmed that at least 55 people had died in the district, while more than 1,100 households sought shelter in a local sports hall. Emergency responders have reported significant challenges in reaching survivors in remote communities because access routes remain blocked by landslides and fallen debris.
The Indonesia emergency command post has prioritized Central Tapanuli due to the scale of destruction and the urgent need for continuous supplies. Officials say that personnel shortages, damaged communication links, and unstable terrain are hampering rescue operations. Heavy equipment is being deployed, but many roads remain impassable, delaying the movement of food, medical assistance, and evacuation teams.
Field units have requested additional communication tools and portable generators because many areas continue to experience prolonged power outages. The lack of electricity has made it difficult to treat injured residents, maintain lighting in temporary shelters, and coordinate night-time evacuations.
In Sibolga City, heavy rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides that killed at least 46 residents and forced more than 4,456 people into emergency shelters. Local authorities reported that disruptions to major access routes have complicated the delivery of food, tents, and medical services.
Teams operating under the Indonesia emergency command post have been deployed to Sibolga to help coordinate evacuations, assess damage levels, and ensure equitable distribution of aid across neighborhoods. Many families were evacuated with little more than the clothes they were wearing, prompting urgent requests for blankets, sleeping mats, clean water, and basic sanitation supplies.
According to emergency workers, some shelters are hosting more families than initially planned, increasing the pressure on local facilities such as washrooms, kitchens, and medical tents. The command post has been sending daily shipments of hygiene kits and ready-to-eat packages to relieve strain on overcrowded shelters.
South Tapanuli has also reported severe impacts, with 46 deaths confirmed and more than 4,661 residents displaced after floodwaters and landslides damaged homes, shops, and public facilities. The Indonesia emergency command post has directed additional personnel and logistics units to the region, where many villages remain partially inaccessible.
Authorities say that emergency teams are working to reopen critical transport corridors so that rescue units can reach isolated communities. Damage to school buildings, bridges, and small roads has created obstacles for teams trying to assess needs and distribute supplies. Residents in temporary shelters have expressed concerns about limited access to medicines, lighting, and clean drinking water, especially for children and elderly evacuees.
Safrizal said the ministry is closely coordinating with district governments to expand relief operations and accelerate deliveries of essential goods. Additional tents, mobile kitchens, and health workers are expected to arrive in the coming days as the command post strengthens its regional deployment.
In North Tapanuli, where the Indonesia emergency command post is based, authorities reported that 11 people had died and around 600 households were displaced. The region continues to struggle with widespread infrastructure damage, including collapsed bridges, landslides covering long stretches of roads, and washed-out riverbanks. These conditions have slowed the arrival of essential supplies in remote villages, requiring emergency teams to organize alternative routes.
While the command post has increased the delivery of food, temporary shelter materials, and power generators, officials acknowledge that the scale of damage poses long-term challenges. Many affected communities depend on agriculture, and widespread crop losses could prolong recovery efforts over the next several months.
Safrizal said that restoring access remains a top national priority. The command post is mapping out damaged areas to determine which roads can be cleared first, which require reconstruction, and where temporary alternative pathways may be needed.
Coordinated efforts continue as more rainfall expected
Meteorologists warn that further rainfall is likely in several districts over the coming days, raising concerns about new landslides and renewed flooding. The Indonesia emergency command post has urged local authorities and residents to remain vigilant, especially in slope-heavy regions where soil remains unstable.
Joint teams from the military, police, search-and-rescue divisions, and local disaster agencies are working around the clock to complete evacuations, restore communication lines, and deliver relief packages. Drones and mapping tools are being used to assess terrain conditions and identify areas still cut off from assistance.
Officials caution that the number of casualties could rise as assessments progress in remote villages. Many families are still waiting to be evacuated from high-risk areas, and emergency responders are attempting to accelerate the process before further rain intensifies hazards.
The Indonesia emergency command post is expected to remain active for an extended period as damage assessments continue and affected districts begin early recovery. Authorities are currently evaluating the long-term needs of displaced families, including permanent housing, financial support, and infrastructure repairs.
