Indonesia’s central government has voiced support for several regional authorities that have chosen to forgo New Year fireworks as a mark of solidarity with victims of devastating floods in Sumatra.
Presidential office spokesman Prasetyo Hadi said today that the move by local governments to ban or discourage fireworks during the celebrations was appropriate, given the scale of the disaster.
“It is right that regional governments take this step, as it reflects empathy and solidarity as a nation with those affected by the disaster,” he told reporters.
Authorities in Jakarta and on the resort island of Bali are among those that have announced there will be no fireworks to welcome the New Year. Police in Denpasar have imposed a ban on firework displays, while Jakarta’s governor has urged the city’s 10 million residents to refrain from setting off fireworks.
The floods and landslides in Sumatra have claimed more than 1,100 lives and displaced around 400,000 people, according to officials. The worst-hit areas include North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh, where several regions remain under a state of emergency.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development Pratikno said recovery efforts are ongoing, with authorities constructing bridges and housing in affected areas. The overall recovery cost is estimated at at least US$3.11 billion (RM12.6 billion).
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian added that more than 20 villages across the three provinces were completely swept away by the floods, underscoring the scale of the devastation.
