Landslide Material Cleaned, West Sumatra-Bengkulu Road Access Via Pesisir Selatan Opened

Police personnel on the South Coast made arrangements at the landslide-hit road point on Saturday (9/3). ANTARA/HO-PolresPessel

West Sumatra Regional Police (West Sumatra) said road access from West Sumatra to Bengkulu via Pesisir Selatan Regency had been reopened on a limited basis since Saturday (9/3) afternoon.

Previously, the road access connecting the two provinces was cut off due to the collapse of the bridge in Labuhan, Ranah Pesisir District, Pesisir Selatan, due to the night of Thursday (7/3).

"The road access this afternoon has been reopened but with a limited system, only motorbikes and private cars can pass," said West Sumatra Police Traffic Director Kombes Pol Dwi Nur Setiawan in Padang as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, March 9.

He said six-wheeled vehicles or loaded cars were not allowed to pass for the safety and security of motorists.

The police asked motorists to remain careful and alert when driving because the weather conditions in parts of West Sumatra are still raining.

Meanwhile, the Head of the South Coast Police Traffic Unit, AKP Aldy Lazuardi, said that the road could be passed again after hoarding the collapsed part.

"Initially an emergency bridge was made, but the capacity was limited. After that, a hoarding was carried out so that cars and motorbikes could pass," he said when contacted from Padang.

He said that until Saturday night the Police were still implementing an open-close system in the local area, both from the West Sumatra and from Bengkulu.

According to him, the arrangement at the location of the Pesisir Selatan Police has placed personnel at the location, together with the Coastal Sector Police (Polsek) personnel.

"The police will continue to provide maximum service to the community, but we urge if there is no need to postpone departures either from West Sumatra or Bengkulu," he explained.