Gayo Lues, Aceh. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka on Tuesday visited a fuel station in Gayo Lues, Aceh, where he found long lines of motorists amid complaints of gasoline shortages following weeks of severe flooding across parts of Sumatra.

Crowds gathered at the Raklunung station as Gibran arrived, with residents complaining that fuel had become scarce. One local resident, Hasan, told the vice president he had been waiting in line for three hours to buy gasoline.

“How long have you been waiting?” Gibran asked.

“Three hours, sir,” Hasan replied.

“Three hours? Please wait a bit longer. We will fix this,” Gibran said.

The visit was part of an inspection tour by the vice president to assess the impact of flash floods and landslides that have devastated large parts of Aceh since late November. After leaving the fuel station, Gibran was scheduled to visit evacuation centers in Gayo Lues, inspect the collapsed Aihbobo Bridge, and continue to Pidie Jaya to check displaced residents sheltering at the At Taqwa Mosque in Meunasah Balek, as well as damage to the Meureudu Bridge.

Government assessments show widespread destruction across the province. In Aceh alone, more than 530 hectares of farmland have been completely damaged and are no longer suitable for cultivation, particularly in Cot Ara village, Kuta Blang district.

More than two weeks after the disaster struck Bener Meriah regency, authorities said 59 villages remain isolated. In Mesidah district, 15 villages with a population of 6,325 people are still cut off, while another 15 villages in Syiah Utama district, home to 2,799 residents, remain accessible only by helicopter or through alternative routes using relay distribution systems for aid.

Flooding has affected at least 11 regencies and cities in Aceh, including Aceh Tamiang, Langsa, East Aceh, North Aceh, Lhokseumawe, Bireuen, Pidie, Pidie Jaya, Bener Meriah, Gayo Lues, Aceh Singkil, and South Aceh. Ten regions have declared a disaster emergency status.

The Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBA) said floods and landslides struck the province between Nov. 18 and Nov. 26. Acting BPBA head Fadmi Ridwan said the disaster affected 14,235 households, or 46,893 people, with 1,497 residents from 455 families forced to evacuate. Most incidents were triggered by prolonged heavy rainfall, strong winds and unstable geological conditions.

Separately, the central government has allocated Rp 60 trillion ($3.6 billion) in the 2026 state budget to fund post-disaster recovery in Aceh, West Sumatra and North Sumatra. As of Tuesday night, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported at least 1,050 deaths across the three provinces, with around 200 people still missing. More than 146,000 homes and thousands of public facilities have been damaged.

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