Jakarta. Flash floods and landslides triggered by extreme weather across parts of Sumatra island have killed at least 1,030 people, with more than 200 still missing, disaster authorities said on Tuesday.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said the disasters have affected 52 regencies and cities in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra provinces. Around 7,000 people were injured, while nearly 186,500 homes were damaged or destroyed.

Damage to public infrastructure has been extensive. BNPB reported that 1,600 public facilities were affected, including 219 health facilities, 967 schools, 434 places of worship, 290 government and office buildings, and 145 bridges hit by flooding and landslides.

Aceh recorded the highest death toll, with 431 people confirmed dead and 32 still missing. North Sumatra followed with 355 fatalities and 84 people unaccounted for, while West Sumatra reported 244 deaths and 90 missing.

At the district level, the hardest-hit area was Agam Regency in West Sumatra, where 184 people were killed. Aceh Utara recorded 163 deaths, followed by Central Tapanuli in North Sumatra with 122 fatalities.

BNPB said the figures remain provisional as search and rescue operations continue in remote and severely damaged areas. “Data on casualties and damage are still being updated in line with ongoing evacuations, searches for missing persons and field assessments,” the agency said in a statement.

Authorities are coordinating closely with local governments, the military, police and volunteer groups to ensure the delivery of emergency logistics, medical assistance and the evacuation of affected residents.

President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the immediate formation of a special body or task force to oversee rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the three provinces, signaling a large-scale government response to the disaster.

“We will immediately form it,” Prabowo said while opening a cabinet meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

The president did not provide details on the task force’s membership or an exact timeline for its establishment. However, he said restoring housing and infrastructure would be a top priority in the post-disaster recovery phase.

Through the Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas, the government plans to begin building temporary shelters and permanent homes for displaced residents. According to initial plans, around 2,000 housing units will be constructed in the first phase.

“We will immediately build temporary housing and permanent housing,” Prabowo said.

He stressed that all state-owned land could be used to accelerate reconstruction, including forest concessions held by state-owned plantation company Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN), if necessary.

“All elements must work together. There should be no excuses. Find land, use available state land. If needed, PTPN land, if needed, forest concessions — we will use them all,” he said.

Prabowo also acknowledged that rebuilding critical infrastructure across Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra would take time due to the scale of destruction and ongoing environmental challenges. He estimated it could take at least two to three months before daily life in the affected areas returns to normal.

“I don’t have the staff of Moses. We can’t solve this in three days, four days or five days,” Prabowo said. “Maybe in two to three months, activities will truly return to normal.”

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