The Ministry Of PUPR Uses Heavy Equipment To Handle Flash Floods In West Sumatra

The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has deployed heavy equipment to help deal with the emergency of cold lava floods that occurred in Agam and Tanah Datar Regencies, West Sumatra (West Sumatra).

Floods occurred due to high rainfall intensity in the Mount Merapi area which caused an overflow of 4 rivers downstream, namely Batang Malana River, Batang Bangkahan River, Batang Bengkawas River and Batang Katiak River, which caused residential areas to be inundated.

Expert Staff to the Minister of PUPR for the Integrated Development of Maulidya Indah Junica said the heavy equipment deployed was focused on cleaning up Mount Marapi's mud and volcanic material and paving access roads to deliver aid and logistics.

"The handling and anticipatory steps were carried out by all organizational units of the Ministry of PUPR. The Sumatra River Basin Center (BWS) V Directorate General of Water Resources mobilized heavy equipment in the form of 5 standard PC 200 excavators to clean up Mount Marapi's mud and volcanic material. The West Sumatra National Road Implementation Center (BPJN) The Directorate General of Highways mobilized tools in the form of 8 excavator units as well as to clean up flood material," said Maulidya in a written statement, Tuesday, May 14.

Meanwhile, to meet the drinking water and sanitation needs for affected communities, the West Sumatra Regional Settlement Infrastructure Center Emergency Response Task Force (BPPW) has conducted the necessary assessment of the facilities and infrastructure needed.

The PUPR Ministry's Emergency Response Team has also coordinated with the Agam Regency and Tanah Datar Regional Governments to monitor the current conditions.

"The results of monitoring the West Sumatra BPPW Emergency Response Team anticipate the need for infrastructure. The West Sumatra BPPW is still coordinating with the Agam Regency BPBD and Tanah Datar Regency if there is a need/request for infrastructure," he said.

He added that the Sumatra V BWS had also coordinated with the West Sumatra BPJN to handle roads in the Anai Valley which had landslides, so that traffic was disrupted, especially the Padang-Bukit Tinggi City connecting route.

"From the results of this coordination, BWS Sumatra V will support the needs of the gabions of around 1,000-1,500 units and 1 unit of heavy equipment," he said.

In addition, from the results of monitoring the national road conditions in Agam Regency and Tanah Datar Regency by BPJN West Sumatra, it was also found that the Padang Panjang-Sicincin City Boundary section, precisely at KM 62+000-KM 67+600, collapsed. Damage also occurred in Margayasa A Bridge, Margayasa B Bridge and Pincuran Batung Bridge.

"The PUPR Ministry has installed flood inundation warning signs and created a disaster response post. Currently, emergency handling is still being carried out on broken roads, collapsed and landslides," he added.