Access To Transportation In North Sumatra Severely Damaged, Sibolga National Route Padang Sidempuan Cuts

Flood conditions in Sedagai Regency, North Sumatra Province, which were hit by floods (doc BNPB)

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) stated that transportation access in a number of disaster-affected areas in North Sumatra (North Sumatra) was badly damaged, including the breaking of the Sibolga-Padang Sidempuan and Sibolga-Tarutung national routes due to landslides.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) deployed heavy equipment and air fleets, but because landslide material closed many points, efforts to open access took great time and resources.

"We have carried out access to Sibolga-Padang Sidempuan transportation until this afternoon and so on," said Head of BNPB Suharyanto in a statement received in Jakarta, Sunday, November 30.

In addition to the main route, several bridges in Sibolga and Central Tapanuli were also cut off, including Pandan Bridge and bridges on the Sibolga-Manduamas section.

A number of district routes have not been passed because the terrain and weather are still changing.

At Mandailing Natal, at least seven areas are still isolated. Some villages can even be reached using helicopters or after heavy equipment has managed to clean up landslide material.

To accelerate logistics distribution and access opening, BNPB deployed five helicopters in assistance at Silangit Airport, Central Tapamuli. BNPB helicopters, TNI AD Bell 412EPI helicopters, MI-17V5 and private helicopters moved to distribute aid to evacuation points.

The Cessna Caravan aircraft is also used to send logistics and personnel to areas that can still be reached by the air.

"We can actually reach Sibolga by air for logistics distribution, even though the land route has not penetrated," said Suharyanto, while ensuring that access opening is carried out in parallel with search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Sibolga, Central Tapanuli and South Tapanuli areas.