Kristen Public Cemetery In Medan Subsides By River Water

Screenshot/ SPECIAL

MEDAN - Video footage of the land subsidence of several graves has been widely shared on social media. The incident occurred at Kristen Simalingkar B Public Cemetery, Medan Tuntungan District, Medan City, North Sumatra.

In the video, you can see several graves that have collapsed. You can also see the former tombstones and grave buildings that are still floating on the surface of the river.

The head of the Medan City Sanitation and Parks Service, Syarifuddin Irsan Dongoran, said 12 graves were damaged as a result of the incident

"There were 12 graves affected", Dongoran said when confirmed by reporters, Wednesday, April 20.

According to him, the incident occurred due to an increase in river water discharge due to rain upstream.

"It happened two days ago when it was raining upstream", he said.

Currently, his party is making a temporary embankment to anticipate the occurrence of more erosion. He also admitted that he had written to the relevant parties to build permanent gabions on the banks of the Babura River.

"Members are making temporary embankments using burlap sandbags. So that it doesn't slide again and we have also written a letter asking them to make gabions", said Dongoran.