JAKARTA - The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army (KSAD), General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak, said the government through the Ministry of Defense had ordered 100 bailey bridges, so that it was hoped that the bridges could be installed around January to February 2026.
Maruli explained that the bailey bridge was deliberately purchased abroad, because at this time the government needs the bridge in large quantities and quickly.
"For the purchase of this bailey, almost no goods are ready stock. This is coordinated by the Ministry of Defense, searched in various countries, how many they are ready, we buy it here, that's what was conveyed to me," said Maruli when answering a reporter's question during a regular press conference regarding disaster handling at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base Integrated Post, Jakarta, Monday, December 29.
Maruli as the Commander of the Bridge Task Force for Disaster Management in Sumatra then determined the points for the installation of the bailey bridge.
"I prepared the points for how many in the disaster area. If more, we use it in other areas. This is also an idea for the future that we have a stock of bailey bridges to deal with disasters or to make bailey bridges in the areas," said Maruli.
Maruli reported on the progress of the restoration of bridges that had previously been cut off and damaged by flash floods and landslides in a number of regencies/cities in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
"Until now, we have received a list for bailey (there are) 44 (bridges). 12 bridges (including) have been completed, the rest are 15 in progress, six are being installed. The others are being collected again," said Maruli.
Not only the bailey bridge, the TNI together with ministries/institutions and assisted by volunteers also helped pre-fabricated steel frame Armco bridges and suspension bridges.
"(The bridge) Armco continues to increase. Today there are 47 points, six (of which) are completed, three installations, the others are in the process of being shipped," said Maruli.
"We will continue to work on this, until now there are 11 suspension bridges, three are being installed, the others are still being surveyed," he continued.
At the Sumatra Disaster Management Integrated Post at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base today, Secretary of State Prasetyo Hadi chaired a press conference regarding matters that the government has worked on with the TNI and Polri in three provinces affected by disasters in Sumatra.
The ranks of officials who reported to the public regarding the handling of disasters today, namely the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, TNI Commander General TNI Agus Subiyanto, National Police Chief General Pol. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak as Commander of the Bridge Task Force for Disaster Handling in Sumatra, Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Head of the Center for Data, Information, and Communication for Disaster BNPB Abdul Muhari, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
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