Dozens of Rivers and Estuaries Affected by Sumatra Disaster Normalised

The Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Post-Sumatra Disaster has reported progress on the normalisation of rivers and estuaries affected by hydrometeorological disasters in the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra (Sumut), and West Sumatra (Sumbar).

Data from the PRR Task Force as of 5 April records that out of a total of 79 national rivers impacted in the three provinces, 38 have been successfully normalised by the central government, achieving 48%. Meanwhile, out of a total of 43 regional rivers, 16 have been successfully normalised by local governments, achieving 37%.

“The details are as follows: in Aceh, out of 24 impacted national rivers, 13 have been successfully normalised. Meanwhile, out of seven impacted regional rivers, two have been successfully normalised. In Sumut, out of 23 impacted national rivers, four have been successfully normalised. Meanwhile, out of 25 impacted regional rivers, ten have been normalised,” said the Head of the PRR Task Force, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, in a written statement on Thursday (9/4/2026).

He explained that for Sumbar, out of 32 impacted national rivers, 21 have been successfully normalised. Meanwhile, out of 11 impacted regional rivers, four have been successfully normalised.

“This achievement is also in line with the normalisation of estuaries, which is gradually showing progress, with details that out of a total of 38 impacted estuaries in the three provinces, 10 have been successfully normalised, achieving 26%. Meanwhile, the other 28 estuaries are in the process of normalisation,” he stated.

Muhammad Tito Karnavian said that most rivers in the disaster-affected areas in the three provinces experienced shallowing due to sedimentation and need to be normalised immediately.

According to Tito, the shallowing or sedimentation of the affected rivers requires long-term normalisation. Moreover, the dozens of impacted rivers have varying degrees of damage, from heavy sedimentation, embankment damage, to changes in river courses.

“I estimate the fastest is really 2 years, could be 3 years. We remember the BRR (Aceh-Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency) era, which took 5 years to complete, plus a 3-year transition. Now, there are 79 rivers being worked on by the centre, local governments are handling 43. (As many as) 38 have been worked on (by the central government), 16 are being handled (by local governments), there are still some that haven’t,” he revealed.

Nevertheless, his side will continue to accelerate the normalisation of rivers and estuaries in the three affected regions. Because if rivers and estuaries are left to experience sedimentation for too long, it will trigger flood expansion.

“Estuaries also need to be normalised; if not, they will be blocked and the water won’t flow. The estuaries alone number 38 and they are not small, they are extensive. In Aceh Tamiang alone, the President (Prabowo Subianto) has directly assigned to the Minister of Defence (Syafrie Sjamsoeddin) and the Deputy Commander of the TNI (General Tandyo Budi Revit). For that, the 4 km that was cleaned is very extensive,” Tito concluded.