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Jokowi orders faster rebuilding of damaged infrastructure in disaster-hit West Sumatra
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A worker operates an excavator on May 17, 2024, to build a temporary bridge over a river to allow trucks to cross and deliver aid to victims of flooding in Nagari Sungai Bambu, Tanah Datar regency, West Sumatra. Nagari Sungai Bambu remains isolated as vital bridges have been swept away by the floods. (Antara/Iggoy el Fitra)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has instructed authorities to work faster to rebuild damaged public infrastructure in West Sumatra following flash floods and lahars earlier this month that killed dozens of people and destroyed hundreds of homes in at least six regencies and cities in the province.
On Tuesday morning, Jokowi visited Agam regency, one of areas hit hardest by the series of disasters, which began on May 11.
“Most roads and temporary bridges have been rebuilt, although there are one or two that are still under construction. This is what we are pushing so that everything returns to normal soon,” he said, as quoted in a Presidential Secretariat press release.
Dozens of people in Agam are still taking shelter, while authorities are clearing debris and repairing damaged infrastructure. One person remains missing in the regency.
Read also: West Sumatra declares 14-day emergency following flood, lahars
In the neighboring Tanah Datar regency, rescuers were still searching for 10 missing people as of Tuesday.
Over the past few days, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has been trying to modify the weather and redirect rain elsewhere, away from rivers on the slopes of the volcano, after the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecast moderate to heavy precipitation in the area.
Hours of heavy rain on May 11 triggered flash floods, landslides and lahars, destructive flows of volcanic debris mixed with water, from nearby Mount Marapi. The volcano has seen increased activity over the past few months, including an eruption in December 2023 that killed more than 20 people.
Read also: Weather anomaly causes deadly flash flooding, lahars in W. Sumatra
The disaster has affected at least six regencies and cities, including the most severely affected regencies of Agam and Tanah Datar. In addition to destroying more than 200 houses and dozens of rice fields, flooding has also cut off the main access road between the provincial capital of Padang and the city of Bukittinggi.
Recent data from the disaster agency shows at least 61 people were killed in the disaster.
Provincial authorities declared a 14-day state of emergency last week to allow for the allocation of resources and equipment to expedite disaster relief, including evacuating residents and disbursing aid. The state of emergency will last until May 26. (ipa)
