Jakarta, Nov. 28 -- Indonesia's Home Affairs Ministry and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) have established a national command post to accelerate relief efforts, after floods and landslides struck North Tapanuli in North Sumatra.

"Tonight we are setting up a national command post in North Tapanuli, which we plan to use as an air logistics hub," Safrizal Zakaria Ali, Director General for Regional Administration at the ministry, said in a statement on Thursday night.

Safrizal said intensive coordination is underway to ensure emergency operations run effectively, with ministry teams already on the ground working with the district head and local security forces.

A field team reached the first landslide site late on Wednesday ...