Driftwood from Sumatra Floods Utilised as Temporary Housing Material

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Wood carried by flood and landslide currents in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra is now being utilised as building material for temporary housing (huntara) for residents. This forms part of the rehabilitation and reconstruction strategy in the disaster-affected areas. Head of the Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Post-Disaster Sumatra, Tito Karnavian, stated that they have designed a scheme to utilise this wood as material for building housing up to industrial needs. “It can also be used by the community to build (housing) themselves, please do so,” Tito said, quoted from a press release by the Government Communication Agency, Friday (3/4/2026). In North Aceh Regency, Aceh, 2,112.11 cubic metres of wood have been utilised for huntara construction. Meanwhile, in Aceh Tamiang Regency, 572.4 cubic metres of wood are awaiting local government policy for its allocation. In South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, there are 329.24 cubic metres of wood for huntara construction, social facilities, and public facilities. In Central Tapanuli Regency, 93.39 cubic metres of wood have been used to support the recovery of affected residents’ homes. Then in Padang City, West Sumatra, the volume of driftwood amounting to 1,996.58 cubic metres has been handed over to the local government to be utilised according to rehabilitation and reconstruction needs. Tito also emphasised that parts of the driftwood that are small in size and less economical should be utilised by local governments as much as possible to become original regional income (PAD). For example, utilised as material for making bricks or fuel for power plants. “The mechanism (through) cooperation and the income becomes PAD (Original Regional Income),” he said. He also assured that the acceleration of driftwood utilisation will continue until all driftwood stockpiles are cleared at all disaster points. Currently, most driftwood stockpiles in the three affected areas have decreased significantly. “Driftwood in Aceh is around 70 percent handled, 30 percent not yet handled, especially in the interior. Then in West Sumatra 99 percent handled, and in North Sumatra 90 percent in Central Tapanuli and South Tapanuli,” Tito explained.