Universitas Syiah Kuala – Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC)
December 26, 2025 – Twenty-one years ago, today (December 26, 2004), all of us remember the catastrophic event that destroyed vast areas of the western coasts of Aceh, Nias of North Sumatra, and the other 14 countries around the Indian Ocean. Not less than 230,000 people died. In Aceh alone, we lost about 130,000 people, mostly in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar District. Universitas Syiah Kuala is one of the most affected universities after the disaster. We lost 213 lecturers and staff and 1,426 students’ lives. We ceased the university operations for almost half a year, and it was only fully activated until the end of 2005. The rehabilitation and reconstruction process took 4 years to be completed by March 2009. Since then, many lessons learned have been learned. One of the breakthroughs was to establish the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) on October 30, 2006, or about two years after the disaster. Since its establishment, TDMRC has documented a series of best practices in Aceh and simultaneously noted lessons unlearned along the process.
Twenty-one years after the 2004 Aceh Tsunami, Aceh was struck by another unprecedented disaster (between November 25-26, 2025). This time, it was a tropical cyclone named Cyclone Senyar. At least until this release, 1,129 people died in three provinces in Sumatra, namely Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Aceh records the highest number of dead casualties, with 504 people dying. There are 18 districts (out of 23 districts) in Aceh directly affected by the Cyclone. Cyclones have never been in a disaster management agenda in Indonesia, let alone in Aceh.
Left photo: Widespread flooding and landslides were reported across multiple districts in Aceh following Cyclone Senyar 2025 | Right photo: Spatial distribution of flood-affected districts/cities in Aceh following Cyclone Senyar 2025 (red). Grey indicates regency/city administrative boundaries.
Since the second day after the cyclone moved away from Sumatra, TDMRC has been actively involved in the process of assisting humanitarian aid after the 2005 Cyclone Senyar that hit 18 districts in Aceh. USK has set up a task force for the Cyclone Senyar Responses in Aceh (SATGAS USK). TDMRC coordinates the task force. The SATGAS USK has set up 7 Field Posts to deliver disaster basic logistics (food, drinking water, etc.) and 7 Community Kitchens, and has been working in 10 disaster-affected districts. Until today, we have sent 480 medics, more than 1,000 volunteers, and distributed more than 14 tons of rice and other logistics. Simultaneously, more than 400 wells have been restored, and more than 500 children have participated in emergency education and psycho-social programs. These have been possible thanks to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek), and many donors who donated to USK via Rumah Amal USK Foundation. A series of post-disaster assessments and surveys have been initiated since the first week after the cyclone. We realize the post-disaster data would be essential as a basis to compose a comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction plan.
Volunteers and medical teams on the ground are delivering aid, health services, and support during the emergency phase.
After almost a month in the emergency period, we realized that the 2004 Aceh Tsunami taught us many precious things. Today, December 26, 2025, we commemorate 21 years after the tsunami. We have successfully resurfaced as one of the leading research centers in the region. Although there are still many serious challenges after Cyclone Senyar, we are committed to guiding the process of the recovery to meet ‘Build Back Better, Safer, and Sustainable’ principles. Let us put the 2004 Aceh Tsunami and Cyclone Senyar 2025 as learning silos where all the knowledge, expertise and lessons learned are blended together and give the best way to protect our people and our nation from disasters (Ssd).
