BNPB Reports Rising Death Toll in Sumatra Natural Disasters

Updated Fatality Count and Relief Efforts

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has reported a total of 1,178 fatalities due to recent natural disasters in Sumatra as of January 6, 2026 ²

. This number represents an increase from previous reports, highlighting the severity of the disaster. The BNPB's Head of Data and Information Center, Abdul Muhari, confirmed that the count rose by one additional fatality in Tapanuli Tengah.

Missing Persons and Displacement

The BNPB also reported that 147 people remain missing following the disasters, while the number of displaced persons has reached 242,174 ²

. The agency has assured that efforts to locate missing individuals are ongoing.

Separate Incident in Sitaro Islands

In a separate incident, the Sitaro Islands experienced flash flooding on January 5, 2026, resulting in 11 confirmed deaths, with six bodies identified and five still in the identification process ¹

. The local BPBD is facilitating the burial process for the victims.

Challenges in Relief Operations

The search and rescue (SAR) operations in Sitaro were temporarily halted due to adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain that posed a risk of further flooding and landslides ¹

. As of the latest reports, five individuals remain missing in the Sitaro incident.