The Joint Team Is Still Working Hard To Clean Landslide Materials On The Majalengka-Kuningan Line

A number of joint officers while struggling to clean up landslide material that closed the access to the Majalengka-Kuningan national road in Cikijing, Majalengka, West Java, on Wednesday (6/3/2024) afternoon. (ANTARA/Fathnur Rohman)

CIREBON - Acting Governor of West Java Beyxi Machmudin confirmed that the cleaning of landslide material that has closed the access to the Majalengka-Kuningan national road since last Tuesday is still being carried out by a joint team. "For those in Cikijing (Majalengka-Kuningan connecting road) it is being handled quickly," said Bey when met in Cirebon, West Java, as reported by Antara, Thursday, March 7. He explained that his party had received information related to the incident, and had instructed relevant agencies to handle it. Disaster events also occurred in several areas in Cirebon and Kuningan which were caused by extreme weather, especially high rainfall. Bey asked local governments in Cirebon, Indramayu, Majalengka and Kuningan (Ciayumajakuning) to increase their vigilance and implement anticipatory measures to reduce the impact of the disaster. "Indeed, we have to be careful at extreme rainfall at this time. We are also ready to stand by to deal with it quickly, "he said. Meanwhile, the Head of BPBD Majalengka Regency, Iskandar Hadi, said that the national route in Cikijing District, Majalengka is still closed and cannot be accessed by two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles due to landslides. Based on the results of observations, he said, there were four points covered by landslide material on the route. However, as of Wednesday (6/3), the cleaning process, especially from the direction of Kuningan, has reached the second point. “Tahap pembersihan material longsorang ini dilakukan secara estafet dari atas ke bawah. Jalan masih ditutup, dan kami bersama pihak terkait terus berupaya mengerikannya,” ungkapnya. Iskandar explained that this cleaning involved dozens of joint officers and was supported by six heavy equipment, which were used to get rid of landslide material. He stated that the weather factor played a very important role in the smooth handling of the avalanche, because if there was heavy rain with a long duration, it was feared that it could trigger further events. However, Iskandar admitted that his condition supports the landslide cleaning process on the Majalengka-Kuningan national route which can be completed in the near future. “ Handling must be one-on-one. It cannot be done simultaneously, because it is feared that there will be further landslides that endanger officers, ” he said. He added that although the route would later be clean, a preliminary study from the authorities was needed whether the connecting road in Cikijing District was safe to pass or not.

"If it is declared safe, it means that this road can be reopened to the community," he said.