T

orrential rains in a number of regions over the past several days in Indonesia have triggered landslides and cut off several main traffic routes.

A number of routes near the tourist destination of Sabang city, in Aceh, were buried by landslides as a result of pouring rain on the island in the past few days.

Sabang Vice Mayor Nazaruddin said besides the landslides covering a number of roads, the heavy rains had also caused floods in a number of areas in the city.

He added the landslides occurred in several areas, such as Paya Kareng and on a stretch of Jl.. Bate Shok heading to Paya Seunara in Sukakarya district. The areas were also hit by flash floods that severed road access in the region.

A 500-meter-long landslide also occurred along Jl.. Ujong Kareung on the way to Anoi Itam in Sukajaya district and another blocked a stretch of road heading to the Gapang tourist site.

'€œHowever, a disaster mitigation team from Sabang city, assisted by relevant agencies and volunteers, are currently working to overcome the problems,'€ Nazaruddin said, as quoted by Antara.

He said his office had coordinated with the Sabang Public Works Office and the Sabang Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) to immediately clear the roads as they are part of the main transportation route used by residents and tourists.

'€œSo, we hope none of the residents are isolated. Tonight, I hope every party would be able to clear the road of debris,'€ he said.

In West Pasaman and Pasaman regencies in West Sumatra, the local administration has successfully reopened access after it was cut by a landslide for 20 hours and vehicles can now get through again.

West Pasaman Regency Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Syofian Hidayat said that the local police went to the location in Simpang Ampek on Thursday with members from the Indonesian Military, the Public Works Office and the BPBD to clear the road.

Two excavators were brought in from West Pasaman and Pasaman regencies to clear debris from the road.

'€œThe road can be reused now, after two excavators cleared the landslide debris,'€ said Syofian.

He added motorists were advised to drive slowly through the road as it was still slippery from mud.

He also advised motorists traveling on the road to remain on alert in case of subsequent landslides caused by the persistent rain.

'€œWe fear the unstable soil on Basangging Hill would trigger subsequent landslides. So, we appeal to motorists to always be on alert,'€ he said.

The road connects West Pasaman and Medan, North Sumatra. Traffic flowed smoothly again after the road was cut for 20 hours.

A two-kilometer stretch of the Trans-Sulawesi Highway in Polato hamlet, Molantadu village in North Gorontalo regency, was also buried by landslide.

North Gorontalo Regent Indra Yasin said on Thursday that the main Trans-Sulawesi Highway was blocked to traffic because of the landslide.

'€œThe main Trans-Sulawesi is impassable to traffic because of the massive landslide in Molantadu village. However, I have asked for assistance from the Gorontalo provincial administration to send heavy machinery to open the access immediately,'€ said Indra.

Cleanup work had earlier been carried out manually by mobilizing local residents who were assisted by Indonesian Air Force personnel, but it was very grueling because of the huge volume of soil covering the road.

Indra added landslides had also hit Ginta hamlet in Tomilito district and Ponelo Dua hamlet in Ponelo Kepulauan district, in which two homes were severely damaged and two others slightly damaged.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast heavy rain to continue across the archipelago over the next three to seven days.

The BMKG said that a low-pressure center was expected in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sumatra, with the average temperature of the sea surface hovering between 27°C and 31°C.

Medium to heavy rains are forecast to hit northern, central and southern parts of Sumatra, western and central parts of Kalimantan, western and eastern parts of Java and central and eastern parts of Papua.