Alternative Route Temanggung-Semarang Closed By Landslide

Heavy equipment was used to remove landslide material that blocked the alternative route of Temanggung Regency-Semarang Regency, Central Java, in Klepu Village, Pringsurat District, Temanggung. ANTARA/Heru Suyitno

TEMANGGUNG - The alternative route connecting Temanggung Regency and Semarang Regency, Central Java, was buried by landslides at two points, namely in Pringapus Hamlet and Ngepoh Hamlet, Klepu Village, Pringsurat, Temanggung.

The Head of BPBD for Temanggung Regency, Toifur Hadi, said that to open the access road, two heavy equipment were deployed at two landslide points.

He explained that high-intensity rain caused landslides at two adjacent points. The two landslide locations are only about 300 meters apart by a bridge.

The first landslide occurred in Pringapus Hamlet at around 14.00 WIB, a 30 meter high cliff which is a coffee plantation owned by Sumani collapsed and covered the road.

After three hours, a cliff with a height of 10 meters collapsed in Ngepoh Hamlet at 17.00 WIB. Landslide material in the form of soil, rocks and mud covered the road with a thickness of about three meters.

Due to the landslide, the Temanggung alternative route to Sumowono, Semarang Regency was cut off. In addition, two chicken coop buildings owned by residents are also threatened, because they are located on the edge of a landslide cliff.

Toifur suspects the landslide occurred because the soil is not strong enough to accommodate the heavy rain and the drainage system is inadequate.

"There were no casualties in this incident, our current effort is to try to open the road access first. We are trying to get rid of all the landslide material today," he said.

The public is advised to be aware of subsequent landslides that may occur, due to the high rainfall and the topography in this area with many cliffs.