SIBOLGA, Caritas Indonesia (Yayasan KARINA-KWI) together with the Caritas-PSE Network in the affected dioceses, moved quickly to help victims of the flash floods in the Sumatera region. Only a few days after the flash floods occurred, Caritas Indonesia initiated a humanitarian service post in Hutagodang Village, Sungai Kanan District, South Tapanuli, North Sumatera.

The Executive Director of Caritas Indonesia, Fr. Fredy Rante Taruk, directly witnessed the location of Hutagodang Village — an area severely affected by the flash floods. Almost all buildings in the village area were razed to the ground, leaving only a few houses standing, including a church building filled with mud and logs. Large rocks, mud, logs, and debris that arrived simultaneously with the flood swept away almost all the residents’ homes.

“My house is gone. We ran to save ourselves and only have the clothes on our backs left,” said a veiled woman, pointing to the location of her house while wiping away tears. Currently, only piles of logs, taller than a person’s height, are scattered everywhere. The woman and her child lost all their possessions and their home, leaving only the clothes they were wearing.

Fr. Fredy, along with the Sibolga Diocese, represented by the Vicar General and the Head of the PSE Commission of the Sibolga Diocese, greeted the survivors and distributed 150 food packages to them. Seeing the severity of the location, Fr. Fredy announced that a humanitarian service post would be opened in Hutagadong Village together with the Sibolga Diocese. “We hope this service can help the survivors, with the availability of a public kitchen, health services, and various basic needs here,” said Fr. Fredy. Seeing the enormous impact, Fr. Freddy also hoped that the wider community would participate by providing donations to be distributed to those affected.

Not only in the Hutagadong Village area, from Medan, the Caritas of the Archdiocese of Medan deployed 11 logistics trucks to be distributed to affected areas in the Dioceses of Padang, Medan, and Sibolga. This aid shipment is a form of solidarity from the Caritas network throughout the dioceses. The Catholic Church is present to work hand-in-hand to help those affected by mobilizing the faithful and humanitarian institutions under the dioceses. Immediately, the Caritas volunteer team, along with the dioceses, opened humanitarian service posts that quickly moved to meet the needs at the disaster locations.

The flash floods, which claimed nearly 1,000 residents in three provinces, prompted the Catholic Church throughout Indonesia to coordinate and raise aid funds for the affected regions, one of which is the Diocese of Surabaya. Through Instagram and Facebook, the Bishop of Surabaya, Mgr. Agustinus Tri Budi Utomo, conveyed to his congregation the need for solidarity and fundraising for humanitarian aid to help the communities in the three provinces on Sumatera. Expressions of solidarity also emerged from other dioceses and community groups.

To date, the funds collected from the public through Caritas Indonesia amount to Rp 1.8 billion. To accelerate the recovery efforts, Caritas Indonesia also accepts aid for priority needs, such as water generators, blankets, tarpaulins, tents, rice, cooking oil, boots, kitchen cooking utensils, school uniforms and equipment, buckets and bathing equipment, as well as new clothing. Caritas Indonesia rejects donations of expired food, packaged beverages, instant food, and used clothing.

Data compiled from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) states that the number of deaths due to flash floods and landslides in the three provinces on Sumatera Island reached 914 people.

“As of today, December 6, 2025 (afternoon), the total number of fatalities reached 914, an increase of 47 from yesterday’s position of 867,” said the Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari in Banda Aceh, Saturday (7/12), quoted from Antara. The breakdown of the number of fatalities is 359 people in Aceh Province, 329 in North Sumatera (Sumut), and 226 in West Sumatera (Sumbar). The total number of missing persons in the three provinces still recorded in the SAR team’s search list is currently 389 people