January 1, 2026 | 03:23 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto spent New Year’s Eve 2026 in Sumatra, joining residents of Batu Hula Village in Batang Toru District, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, who were displaced by floods and landslides that struck the region in late November 2025.
Speaking to evacuees at a temporary shelter, Prabowo said his decision to spend the New Year at the refugee camp reflected empathy and the state’s responsibility toward its citizens.
“That is why I decided to spend this New Year’s Eve with our brothers and sisters who are facing hardship,” Prabowo said, as quoted by the Presidential Communication Team on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
In his remarks, Prabowo assured residents that the government would not abandon those affected by the disaster. “Your leaders, your president, will never leave you. We stand together,” said the former defense minister.
Prabowo also provided an update on recovery efforts in South Tapanuli, noting that there were no longer any villages cut off by flooding or landslides. He praised the rapid construction of an emergency bridge, which was completed far sooner than usual.
“What typically takes three weeks to a month was finished in just ten days,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, Prabowo traveled to the disaster-affected areas of Sumatra, arriving with a limited delegation at Raja Sisingamangaraja XII Airport in North Tapanuli Regency that afternoon.
During his visit to South Tapanuli, Prabowo inspected the construction of a Bailey Bridge over the Garoga River. Built jointly by authorities and local residents, the bridge is intended to restore a key transportation link that was severed by the disaster.
Prabowo also visited evacuation shelters to ensure displaced residents were receiving adequate services and that relief assistance was being distributed properly.
As part of his disaster response tour, Prabowo had also planned to visit Aceh and spend New Year’s Eve there. However, the trip was canceled due to adverse weather conditions.
Read: Prabowo's New Year Message in North Sumatra: Protect and Respect Nature
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