TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto on Friday visited three districts in Aceh province affected by severe floods and landslides: Aceh Tamiang, Aceh Tengah, and Bener Meriah.
The visit marked Prabowo’s third inspection of disaster-hit areas in recent weeks, following earlier trips to flood-affected regions in North Sumatra and West Sumatra.
He arrived in Aceh after surveying damage in Medan, North Sumatra, as part of a series of on-the-ground assessments of the disasters that have struck Sumatra.
During the visit, the president inspected evacuation centers and spoke directly with residents displaced by the floods. His first stop was Sukajadi Village in Aceh Tamiang, one of the districts hardest hit by flash floods and landslides.
Prabowo was accompanied by Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, Aceh Tamiang Regent Armia Fahmi, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Chief Lieutenant General Suharyanto.
Apologizing for Power Outages
While speaking with evacuees, Prabowo apologized for ongoing power outages in several areas, acknowledging the difficult conditions on the ground. He assured residents that the central government would step in to support local authorities.
“I apologize if there are still areas without electricity. We are working hard. Perhaps the power is already back on now. We understand the situation in the field is very difficult, but we will overcome it together,” Prabowo said, as quoted from the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel on Friday, December 12, 2025.
The president also addressed children at the evacuation sites, asking for their patience and promising that reconstruction efforts would be accelerated so they could return to school as soon as possible.
Environmental Warning
Prabowo also used the visit to remind the public of the importance of environmental protection, urging people not to cut down trees indiscriminately.
“We must be more careful. We have to take care of our environment and our nature. We must not randomly cut down trees,” he said.
He added that he had instructed government officials to tighten supervision and remain vigilant, stressing that environmental sustainability must be maintained to prevent future disasters.
Praising the Aceh Tamiang Regent
During his address, Prabowo praised Aceh Tamiang Regent Armia Fahmi, noting his background as a retired two-star police officer who chose to serve as a regional leader.
“Regent Fahmi, Armia Fahmi, are you a two-star police general?” Prabowo asked. Fahmi confirmed that he had retired with the rank of Inspector General.
“A two-star officer willing to become a regent. You are extraordinary,” Prabowo said, drawing applause from those present. When told that Fahmi was the only regent in Indonesia with that rank, the president thanked him for his service and dedication to the public.
Asking Victims to Remain Patient
At his second stop, an evacuation post at the Al Abrar Grand Mosque in Takengon, Prabowo again urged disaster victims to remain patient, assuring them that the government would provide assistance.
“The government will certainly help those affected by this disaster,” he said. “I ask for patience and resilience. We will do our best to help everyone.”
Prabowo promised to build permanent housing for flood victims, noting that the central government had already allocated funds for reconstruction, although the process would take time.
His remarks came after hearing complaints from a resident named Raodah, who said evacuees were in urgent need of food supplies, clean water, electricity, and reliable communication networks.
“I hope you can help repair our homes as soon as possible, Sir,” Raodah said.
Death Toll Nears 1,000
Earlier, during a closed-door meeting on disaster response and recovery in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra on December 7, Prabowo stressed that public safety must be the top priority. He instructed officials to ensure that basic needs, particularly medicines, reach affected communities without delay.
“Do not let people’s needs go unmet. Medicines must be delivered immediately, as a priority,” he said.
According to BNPB data, the death toll from the floods and landslides across Sumatra has reached 995 people as of Friday, December 12, 2025.
Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to this article.
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