The deployment follows directives from the Minister of Forestry and the Deputy Minister of Forestry for central offices and technical units to provide daily necessities and other forms of assistance to affected residents.
Director of Forest Fire Control at the Ministry’s Directorate General of Law Enforcement, Thomas Tandi Bua, said that about sixty Manggala Agni personnel have been assigned to Tabing Banda Gadang in Nanggalo sub-district, Padang City, West Sumatra.
The team is focusing on clearing residential areas and repairing neighborhood road infrastructure damaged by floods and landslides.
Thomas noted that personnel have also been deployed to Langkat District in North Sumatra and East Aceh District in Aceh.
He said teams are mobilized from the closest operational bases to ensure a rapid response. This effort represents the solidarity of forestry officers in assisting communities affected by hydrometeorological disasters across Sumatra.
In addition to manpower for cleaning homes and access roads, Manggala Agni has distributed meals and daily supplies to residents in need.
Personnel stationed in Nanggalo have been on site for several days, assisting residents of Griya Pertama 2 housing complex, where most homes were affected by flooding.
According to ANTARA’s observations, Manggala Agni personnel in their distinctive red uniforms continued clearing mud-covered roads. Several members of the team remained on duty until late afternoon to help ensure that residents’ homes could be safely reoccupied.
Severe floods and landslides struck Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra in late November 2025 following intense rainfall.
According to data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as of December 9, the death toll had reached 962, while 291 people remained missing.
The data also showed that 5,000 residents were injured, with conditions ranging from minor to severe.
BNPB further reported that the floods and landslides affected around 157 thousand houses, 192 health facilities, 534 educational facilities, 425 places of worship, 234 office buildings, and 497 bridges across 52 districts and cities.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna Violleta, Primayanti
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
