Jakarta. Indonesia’s disaster agency reports death toll are rising on Friday as flash floods strike Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, with disrupted communication networks slowing efforts to verify the number of victims.

BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari said the agency is coordinating closely with local governments to update the list of victims, though some districts remain unable to provide complete information.

“We are still communicating with local authorities. Some of them are having difficulty reporting because communication networks are still disrupted,” Abdul said in a briefing streamed on BNPB’s YouTube channel on Friday.

North Sumatra: Worst-Hit Region

At Least 72 Dead Across Three Provinces

Based on preliminary figures compiled as of Friday afternoon, at least 72 people have died across the three provinces, with dozens more still missing.

Aceh: 6 Dead, 11 Missing

Casualties in Aceh were reported in two districts:

Bener Meriah: 5 dead, 9 missing

Gayo Lues: 1 dead, 2 missing

North Sumatra: Worst-Hit Region

North Sumatra recorded the highest number of victims, with severe impacts in multiple districts:

Central Tapanuli (Tapanuli Tengah): 34 dead, 33 missing

South Tapanuli (Tapanuli Selatan): 13 dead, 3 missing

Pakpak Bharat: 1 dead

North Tapanuli (Tapanuli Utara): 3 dead, 5 missing

Humbang Hasundutan: 4 dead

“In total for North Sumatra, Central Tapanuli recorded 34 deaths, South Tapanuli 13, Pakpak one, North Tapanuli five, and Humbang Hasundutan four,” Abdul said.

West Sumatra: 9 Dead

West Sumatra’s latest figures—reported by the provincial deputy governor on Thursday—listed:

Padang City: 4 dead

Padang Pariaman Regency: 5 dead

Additional updates from local governments are still pending.

Search and Rescue Efforts Hampered

BNPB said search, evacuation, and verification efforts will continue despite damaged infrastructure and difficult access in several areas. The agency is working with the military, police, national search-and-rescue teams, and regional disaster management offices to accelerate the emergency response.

“Inter-agency coordination remains ongoing to speed up the disaster response despite the challenges on the ground,” Abdul said.

More updates are expected as communication lines improve and assessment teams reach isolated areas.