S. Parman Street Batam Closed Due To Landslide, City Government Deploys Heavy Equipment To Make Alternative Routes

Heavy equipment belonging to the Bina Marga Office cleared land to create alternative roads. (ANTARA/HO-Bina Marga Office)

BATAM - Batam City Government (Pemkot) provides alternative roads that can be passed by motorized vehicles due to the temporary closure of S. Parman Street, Piayu Laut, Sei Beduk, Batam City, Riau Islands which collapsed due to eroded rain.

"For the landslide at Piayu Laut, our heavy equipment arrived at the location yesterday afternoon. This road will be closed and a temporary road or alternative road will be made," said the Head of the Batam City Highways and Water Resources Service, Yumasnur, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, March 6.

He explained the alternative road was because the main road leading to residential areas was completely impassable due to the landslide.

"This alternative road will be completed immediately, our heavy equipment will start working as soon as it arrives at the location," he said.

Separately, the Head of RW 16 Bukit Kemuning, Piayu Laut, Rachmat Hidayat explained that the access road is the only access road there.

"From that road, the access is via a hill that just fell yesterday (2/3). We are closing it because we are anticipating further landslides. We don't want any residents to become victims while crossing," he said.

The closure of this road was also a joint decision taken with the sub-district, urban village, and known to the local police.

"After yesterday's landslide, it is still raining until now. There is still material from yesterday's landslide which will be cleaned up. And this decision is also an instruction from the District," he said.

He urged the public to be involved in anticipatory steps. Even though currently the barrier is used by RT/RW officials, it is often opened by some residents who are stubborn and pass through areas prone to landslides.

"We don't have anyone to guard 24 hours. Sometimes the barriers with tree wood that we make are often opened by residents. We can only appeal let's maintain safety together," he said.