The Government Plans To Relocate Landslide Affected Residents In Tana Toraja

JAKARTA - The government plans to relocate residents affected by landslides in Maale and South Makale sub-districts, Tana Toraja Regency, which claimed up to 20 lives.

"I ask for his willingness to be relocated, so the place is moved to a safer place," said Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy in a statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Saturday, April 20.

The statement by Coordinating Minister Muhadjir was delivered while directly observing the location of the landslide in Manggau Village, Makale District, Tana Toraja Regency, South Sulawesi Province (Sulsel) on April 19, 2024.

The landslide disaster was triggered by high intensity rain in an unstable area on Saturday, April 13 at 22.30 WITA.

Longsoran piled up six houses in Makale District and one house in South Makale, and claimed 20 lives. A total of 16 people were found dead in Makale, while four others were in the South Makale area.

Coordinating Minister Muhadjir said the location of the landslide was not appropriate to be occupied as a residential area. According to him, the area occupied is not safe because it is in a steep hilly area, so settlement relocation will be carried out to a safer place.

"Don't take any more risks. Later we will ask residents whose places are not suitable and prone to landslides, we can relocate them," he said.

Coordinating Minister Muhadjir also asked local governments (Pemda) to immediately urge residents to immediately move from landslide-prone areas, considering that in the checking carried out by BNPB there are still cracks that must be watched out for.

He is worried that the rainy season that still often occurs will endanger residents.

The land for the relocation of affected residents and residents living in these vulnerable places will later be discussed with the Tana Toraja Regency Government (Pemkab) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).

"I will also talk to the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, hopefully everything will run smoothly," he said.

The government also immediately repaired infrastructure and road access which was cut off due to landslides, one of which was a bridge that connects two sub-districts affected by landslides.

"This is the only access that is very vital. We will also handle this soon. Meanwhile, there will be a connecting bridge, for the long term it will be built which is permanent and strong, so that it will not happen again like now," he said.