Access to Sibio-Bio Village in Central Tapanuli Remains Cut Off, Residents Forced to Cross River

Residents of Sibio-Bio Village in Sibabangun, Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, continue to be forced to cross the Muara River on foot as access to their village remains severed.

Three bridges serving as the connecting road between Sibio-Bio Village and Muara Sibuntuon Village were destroyed by flash floods on 25 November 2025. Nearly three months on, the bridges have yet to be repaired or replaced.

On Saturday (21 February 2026), residents were photographed working together to carry motorcycles across the river, underscoring the difficult conditions they face in the absence of proper infrastructure.

The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by remote communities in recovering from natural disasters, with basic transport links still unrestored months after the flooding.