Enviro News Asia, West Sumatra — Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni visited flood and landslide-hit areas in Agam Regency, West Sumatra, on Sunday to oversee emergency operations and ensure that government assistance reached affected residents. He coordinated on site with Riau Police Chief Insp. Gen. Herry Heryawan, Agam Regional Secretary Mhd Lutfi, military personnel, and volunteer teams during the disaster response.
The minister walked through several devastated zones to monitor evacuation efforts and aid distribution. He also observed the retrieval of two recently discovered victims and extended his condolences to families affected across Agam and nearby regions.
Raja Antoni said the government remained focused on life-saving operations during the emergency phase. He emphasized that his immediate priority was securing access, accelerating evacuations, and ensuring that all affected residents received aid in a timely manner.
He later visited evacuation shelters to speak with displaced families, including a woman who reported that her younger sibling and niece were still missing. The minister assured residents that the government was prioritizing accurate data collection and support for all survivors.
Raja Antoni noted that ministries and security agencies continue to coordinate to address isolated areas and deploy heavy machinery to restore access. He reiterated that psychological support for survivors—especially children—remained part of the government’s early recovery plan.
He added that he welcomed evaluations and investigations after the emergency phase concludes, stressing that the current focus is to resolve immediate challenges faced by the affected communities.
The Ministry of Forestry and the Riau Police have also delivered assistance to disaster-affected areas across West Sumatra, including food supplies, drinking water, blankets, clothing, and equipment to support evacuation efforts. (*)
