29 Villages Destroyed by Sumatra Disasters; Home Affairs Minister Opens Options of Relocation or Administrative Removal
Jakarta, VIVA – Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has revealed that 29 villages were destroyed as a result of flash floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.
Tito disclosed this during a meeting with the leadership of the House of Representatives regarding the coordination of the Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force for Sumatra at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
"There are 29 villages that have disappeared, swept away by landslides or hit by flooding," said Tito.
He explained that 21 villages were destroyed by flash floods in Aceh Province, whilst no villages were reported lost in West Sumatra.
"Aceh has the most, with 21 villages wiped out, in Aceh Tamiang, Nagan Raya, and Gayo Lues," said Tito.
Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, eight villages were destroyed. "North Sumatra has eight villages that have disappeared, particularly in South Tapanuli and Central Tapanuli," said Tito.
The former National Police Chief stressed that the government needs to follow up on the dozens of destroyed villages. He raised the option of either rebuilding the lost villages or removing them from government administrative records.
"This also requires resolution regarding relocation and village government administration — meaning, for the villages that have disappeared, do we rebuild them or remove them from the government administration?" he said.
He added that the number of displaced persons from the flash floods and landslides in Sumatra stands at 12,944 people. Tito noted that this figure has decreased from a total of more than two million evacuees.
The Head of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra explained that displaced persons currently remain in areas of Aceh and North Sumatra.
"Across these three provinces, our data shows 1,205 people have died and 139 are missing. The number of displaced persons has also dropped from over two million to approximately 12,944 people still in tents," said Tito.
Tito disclosed this during a meeting with the leadership of the House of Representatives regarding the coordination of the Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force for Sumatra at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
"There are 29 villages that have disappeared, swept away by landslides or hit by flooding," said Tito.
He explained that 21 villages were destroyed by flash floods in Aceh Province, whilst no villages were reported lost in West Sumatra.
"Aceh has the most, with 21 villages wiped out, in Aceh Tamiang, Nagan Raya, and Gayo Lues," said Tito.
Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, eight villages were destroyed. "North Sumatra has eight villages that have disappeared, particularly in South Tapanuli and Central Tapanuli," said Tito.
The former National Police Chief stressed that the government needs to follow up on the dozens of destroyed villages. He raised the option of either rebuilding the lost villages or removing them from government administrative records.
"This also requires resolution regarding relocation and village government administration — meaning, for the villages that have disappeared, do we rebuild them or remove them from the government administration?" he said.
He added that the number of displaced persons from the flash floods and landslides in Sumatra stands at 12,944 people. Tito noted that this figure has decreased from a total of more than two million evacuees.
The Head of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra explained that displaced persons currently remain in areas of Aceh and North Sumatra.
"Across these three provinces, our data shows 1,205 people have died and 139 are missing. The number of displaced persons has also dropped from over two million to approximately 12,944 people still in tents," said Tito.