“We must be prepared in the pre-disaster phase, during the disaster, and in the post-disaster phase,” he said on Friday.
Rustian noted that disaster preparedness is crucial, as all provinces in Indonesia are prone to natural disasters due to the country’s location along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
“In these three disaster phases, all components of society must remain vigilant, because natural disasters are unpredictable and can be deadly,” he said.
He cited ongoing recovery efforts following flash floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra as an example of the challenges faced.
In West Sumatra, Rustian said he had coordinated early with the provincial governor to identify measures needed to minimize the impact of the disasters.
He added that disasters in the three provinces have claimed more than 1,000 lives, with a number of victims still unaccounted for. In West Sumatra, the government and victims’ families have agreed to end further search and rescue operations.
Beyond post-disaster recovery, Rustian said the government remains committed to providing the best possible services to survivors of flash floods and landslides in the affected provinces.
BNPB also praised the performance of provincial and local governments in handling the disaster impacts.
“Of the 15 affected districts and cities, 13 declared emergency status, and thankfully, 12 have now exited the emergency phase,” he said.
As of Thursday, January 1, 2026, BNPB reported that the death toll from flash floods in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra had reached 1,157.
Related news: BNPB stresses disaster mitigation to reduce risks, impact
Related news: BNPB estimates Sumatra flood recovery cost at US$3.1 billion
Translator: Zulfikar, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2026
