JAKARTA — Indonesia will scale back New Year celebrations by skipping fireworks in several regions as the country mourns victims of devastating floods and landslides in Sumatra, the presidential palace said on Monday.
An official spokesperson said the national government supports decisions by local governments to ban or discourage fireworks as a show of empathy for affected communities.
The move comes after deadly floods across parts of Sumatra left more than 1,100 people dead and displaced roughly 400,000 others.
Several local authorities and police units, including those in Jakarta and on the resort island of Bali, have announced that firework displays will not be allowed during New Year celebrations out of respect for the victims.
“It is appropriate for regional governments to take this step,” said Prasetyo Hadi, spokesperson for President Prabowo Subianto. “As a nation, we must show empathy and solidarity with those who are suffering from disaster.”
Police in Denpasar, the capital of Bali, have formally banned New Year fireworks, according to state news agency Antara.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung earlier said there would be no fireworks in the capital, home to around 10 million people, and urged residents to refrain from setting them off privately.
Authorities said recovery efforts are ongoing in flood-hit areas of Sumatra, including North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh.
The government has begun rebuilding bridges and housing, with total recovery costs projected to reach at least $3.11 billion.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development Pratikno said several regions on the island remain under a state of emergency.
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian added that more than 20 villages across the affected provinces were completely wiped out by the floods.