West Sumatra. President Prabowo Subianto visits disaster-hit areas in West Sumatra, pledging to accelerate infrastructure repairs and housing construction as authorities race to restore connectivity and move survivors out of emergency shelters following deadly floods and landslides.

During a visit on Dec. 17–18, Prabowo inspected communities affected by floods in the Palembayan district, Agam regency, and reviewed repair works on the Lembah Anai national road, a key artery linking Padang and Bukittinggi that was severely damaged. Local officials said rehabilitation of the collapsed sections is about 80% complete along a 5.4-kilometer stretch, with dozens of heavy machines deployed to speed up the work.

Tanah Datar Regent Eka Putra said the government aims to reopen the route within four months, with full restoration targeted by July. The reopening is expected to revive interregional connectivity, logistics flows and economic activity across West Sumatra.

Prabowo also visited Kayu Tanam in Padang Pariaman regency to check progress on supporting infrastructure, including Bailey bridges being built by the military with community support to reconnect areas cut off by the disaster. Presidential Chief of Staff Prasetyo Hadi said about 35 Bailey bridges are under construction across affected parts of Sumatra, underscoring the urgency of restoring access for residents and aid distribution.

In Agam regency’s Salareh Aia village, the president inspected evacuation sites and temporary housing being built by the Indonesian military. He set a one-month deadline to complete temporary shelters for residents displaced by floods and landslides, saying the move would allow families to leave tents and more precarious accommodations. Prabowo added that the government would swiftly follow up with permanent housing, promising homes of around 70 square meters with adequate quality.

“The government is thinking every day about what needs to be done to improve conditions,” Prabowo told residents, while thanking the military, police, search-and-rescue teams and local governments for their coordination.

Beyond physical reconstruction, the president flagged longer-term environmental concerns, calling for tighter forest management, a review of mining permits and stricter oversight of business activities along riverbanks to reduce disaster risks.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that floods and landslides across parts of Sumatra have killed 1,059 people as of Dec. 17, with 192 still missing more than three weeks after the disasters. Authorities recorded damage to 147,236 homes and thousands of public facilities, including schools, bridges, health centers and places of worship, across three provinces.

Prabowo has instructed his cabinet to prioritize housing and infrastructure recovery in West Sumatra, North Sumatra and Aceh as part of a broader push to accelerate post-disaster rehabilitation nationwide.

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