Pulubala Gotontalo Bridge Collapses Due To Extreme Weather, Residents Isolated

GORONTALO - Pulubala Village Head Basrin Djafar said extreme weather was the cause of the collapse of the Pulubala Bridge in Gorontalo Regency, Gorontalo Province on Monday, April 14.

"Because the water discharge was too high and it was raining heavily, this bridge collapsed at around 15.30 on Monday," Basrin said in Gorontalo, Wednesday, April 16, which was confiscated by Antara.

Basrin said the bridge had been damaged since 2021 and had been repaired several times in an emergency. However, extreme weather conditions made the bridge structure unable to withstand the current of the water that eroded the bottom of the bridge.

"From 2021 so that until now in 2024 we have repaired it, but it doesn't close, because it's a disaster and it can't be passed anymore," said Basrin.

He said that as a result of the incident, around 500 families were affected, especially residents from the opposite hamlet, who are now isolated due to the absence of alternative access.

"If you want to pass, you have to rotate through Bongomeme and it can take more than an hour," said Basrin.

This condition also has an impact on the activities of school children and the market for residents who have to be moved to other locations.

"The Regent and Head of Service have arrived. He said an emergency bridge would be built soon, possibly this week," said Basrin.

One of the residents of Amrin Abdullah said the damage to this bridge had actually happened a long time ago.