Roads in the Anai Valley Temporarily Disrupted After the Flood, Minister PU: The Problem is Illegal Logging

Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - The rampant illegal logging activities are said to be the cause of flash floods and landslides in West Sumatra (Sumbar), which resulted in very severe damage to road infrastructure.

This was stated by the Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo after reviewing several areas in West Sumatra after the late-night flood and landslides, especially in Lake Maninjau and the Anai Valley.

"Yesterday I went to Lake Maninjau and Anai Valley. The problem is, there is illegal logging, the wood fell from above, there was a flood," said Dody in a media briefing on the Preparedness of the Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 Holiday Infrastructure in the PU Ministry Auditorium, Jakarta, Thursday, December 18.

In the Anai Valley, Dody also saw a hill that was eroded and if there was a follow-up heavy rain, it could cause flash floods and landslides to occur again.

"Well, there is one hill that is very steep (bald), so when I was there yesterday, I had already ordered my team to the Director General of Road Construction to pay attention to this hill. It could cause flooding later, if the rain is still heavy," he said.

Meanwhile, when Dody reviewed around Lake Maninjau, according to the confession of several Wali Nagari (the name of the village head in West Sumatra), it was revealed that illegal logging practices around the area had often occurred.

"If in Maninjau, I was also told by the village head (Wali Nagari) there that illegal logging has often occurred. Today here, tomorrow in sono, the same, it's always a problem, illegal logging," said Dody.

This also made many logs carried away by the current when flash floods occurred. Not only logs, the top of the hills also carries large rocks and causes landslides.

"So, it's all falling wood, there are also big rocks falling and so on," explained Dody.

Therefore, his party hopes that illegal logging activities can be prevented and there must be action, so that flash floods do not recur later.

"So, yes, first we have to explain the illegal logging, how to make sure that the activity is not done again. Only after that we talk about the problem from the infrastructure side that we can work on there," he added.