Jakarta: Sumatra floods have reshaped Indonesia’s year-end celebrations after the central government has backed regional decisions to cancel New Year fireworks in a gesture of mourning and solidarity.
The move has followed severe flooding and landslides across the island that have killed more than 1,100 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Officials have said multiple regional governments and police authorities have chosen to forgo fireworks out of respect for the victims of the Sumatra floods. These include restrictions in the capital Jakarta and the popular tourist destination Bali, where police have banned displays and urged residents to avoid setting off fireworks privately.
Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi has said that the national government believes the regional bans are appropriate, stressing the importance of empathy and unity during a period of national grief. Authorities have emphasised that celebrations should reflect awareness of the suffering caused by the Sumatra floods rather than proceed as normal.
The floods have struck several provinces, including North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh, where homes, bridges and entire villages have been destroyed. Government officials have said more than 400,000 people remain displaced, with emergency shelters still operating in multiple districts.
Indonesia’s home affairs minister has reported that more than 20 villages across the affected provinces have effectively disappeared after being swept away by floodwaters and landslides. Several areas remain under emergency status as recovery and rescue operations continue.
Authorities have begun rebuilding damaged infrastructure, including temporary housing and transport links, but officials have warned that recovery will be lengthy and costly. The estimated cost of reconstruction linked to the Sumatra floods has reached at least £2.45 billion ($3.11 billion), according to government figures.
The decision to cancel fireworks has been presented as a symbolic but important step, reinforcing national solidarity while relief efforts continue. Officials have reiterated that public safety, remembrance and support for affected communities must take priority as Indonesia enters the new year under the shadow of one of its deadliest climate-related disasters in recent history.
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