Jakarta: Indonesia will not be setting off fireworks for New Year's, showing compassion towards victims of the major floods. The Indonesian central government is ready to support plans by several local governments to refrain from setting off fireworks on New Year's Eve as a show of solidarity with those affected by the major floods on the island of Sumatra in late November.

According to Thai News Agency, a spokesman for the Indonesian presidential palace told reporters that the central government considered it correct for local governments to ban fireworks, or to ask the public to cooperate by not setting off fireworks to celebrate the New Year, in order to show empathy and solidarity as fellow citizens, as many people are still suffering from the disaster.

Local governments and police in several areas, including Jakarta and the popular tourist island of Bali, have announced that they will not permit New Year's Eve fireworks displays out of respect for the victims of the floods on the island of Sumatra in late November, which have killed more than 1,100 people and left around 400,000 homeless.

Indonesian authorities are building bridges and shelters in flood-stricken areas on the island of Sumatra, covering the provinces of North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh. More than 20 villages have been completely swept away by the floodwaters. The reconstruction effort is expected to cost at least US$3.11 billion (approximately 97.39 billion baht).