“As soon as a disaster occurs, the Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) is immediately activated, along with the Ministry of Health’s person in charge, to ensure that all health services continue functioning,” Head of Health Resources at the West Sumatra Health Office Saiful Jamal said here on Friday.
He explained that essential services, including logistics distribution, medical personnel readiness, patient referrals, and the expedited recovery of bodies, were maintained at maximum effort.
The health response system operates under a unified command, with daily evaluations conducted together with the Health Minister to monitor needs, obstacles, and service effectiveness in affected areas.
Entering the 11th day of emergency response, conditions in many parts of West Sumatra remain far from normal, as several access routes are still blocked.
“Evacuation processes are not yet complete, and demand for health services continues to rise,” Jamal said.
Major routes, including Malalak and Lembah Anai, remain inaccessible, slowing medical team movements and evacuation operations.
“Blocked main access makes body recovery extremely difficult,” he added.
Special freezers have been provided to store bodies, allowing identification processes to proceed. Once bodies are identified, efforts will be made to expedite their retrieval so the next identifications can move faster.
According to the Disaster Data Dashboard update on December 5, a total of 210 fatalities have been recorded in West Sumatra due to hydrometeorological disasters, with the highest number in Agam District at 132. Meanwhile, 26 bodies remain unidentified, and 214 people are still missing.
Related news: Indonesia probes companies behind logs that worsened Sumatra floods
Related news: Indonesia reviews mining permits after deadly Sumatra floods
Translator: Zulfikar, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
