As Eid Al-Fitr Approaches, Flood Sludge Clearance in Sumatra 80 Per Cent Complete
Flooding that swept through various regions of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra in November 2025 is beginning to show signs of recovery. Through the Task Force for Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR), nearly 80 per cent of flood sludge that had covered settlements, roads and public facilities has been successfully cleared.
In total, 508 locations served as sludge handling points across the three affected provinces. As of 9 March 2026, Satgas PRR had cleared 406 locations, with 102 remaining under processing.
“Sludge clearance forms part of the post-disaster rehabilitation phase aimed at restoring public access and ensuring public facilities return to normal functioning,” said Amran, Director of Regional Areas, Municipalities and National Borders at the Directorate General of Regional Development, and Satgas PRR Spokesperson, at the Ministry of Home Affairs office on Monday, 9 March 2026.
In detail, Aceh represents the region with the highest number of affected locations, with 455 sludge clearance points. Of these, 366 locations have been successfully completed, whilst 89 remain under processing.
Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, of the total 24 sludge handling locations, 11 have been fully cleared and are ready for community use once more. The remaining 13 locations are still under treatment.
Good news comes from West Sumatra, where sludge affecting public mobility at 29 locations has been entirely completed.
Amran stated that all national and provincial roads previously covered by sludge have returned to normal functioning. Remaining work currently covers only small-scale locations, such as access roads to certain settlement points or specific areas.
This effort represents the result of cooperation among more than 30 ministries and agencies joined within Satgas PRR. In this endeavour, 1,739 cadets from the Military Academy (Akmil), Naval Academy (AAL), Air Force Academy (AAU), Police Academy, Polytechnic of Cyber and State Cipher (Poltek SSN), and Defence University (Unhan) have been mobilised.
Additionally, 1,589 IPDN trainees have been deployed to assist with sludge handling in Sumatra. This figure was divided into two phases: the first phase with 869 trainees and the second phase with 720 trainees. Each phase performed duties for one month.
Satgas PRR targets completing sludge clearance before Eid Al-Fitr 2026. “The sludge clearance is nearly complete. There is still two weeks remaining; hopefully it can be entirely finished at 100 per cent,” Amran said.
Tito Karnavian, Chairman of Satgas PRR and Minister of Home Affairs, continues efforts to accelerate recovery for communities affected by the Sumatra floods. He stated that sludge clearance is the key priority in recovery of the three affected provinces.
With sludge handled, aid distribution routes can reopen, markets and shops can resume activity, and health and education services can operate normally. “With this foundation, the rehabilitation phase in the three affected provinces is now progressing more rapidly towards sustainable recovery,” he said on 11 February 2026.
Clearance efforts also involved the Ministry of Public Works as part of Satgas PRR. Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo stated that his team has carried out clearance and accelerated restoration of public facilities. “We want to ensure affected communities are not in difficult conditions for too long. In addition to public facility clearance, the government is also preparing temporary shelter and basic infrastructure as part of comprehensive recovery,” he said.