Eight bridges collapse in C. Sulawesi after flooding

Eight bridges collapse in C. Sulawesi after flooding

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi

Eight bridges in Central Sulawesi have collapsed in floods caused
by incessant rain over the past two weeks. The natural disaster,
which is common during the wet season, also cut roads linking
several parts of the province, an official said on Saturday.

Mashud Kasim, the head of the Central Sulawesi Office of
Settlement and Regional Infrastructure, said damages that the
provincial government would have to bear amounted to Rp 38.5
billion (US$4.5 billion).

The office has earmarked Rp 3.5 billion to repair the damage,
but it has to work hard to find other financial sources to cover
the total estimated expenses.

"We are unable to shoulder the burden alone. The central
government definitely has to help us," said Mashud.

Of the eight collapsed bridges, one was located in Podi
subdistrict in Tojo Unauna regency, one in Tawaili subdistrict in
Palu municipality, and another in Kebun Kopi subdistrict in
Donggala regency. The remaining five were two in Loli Tasiburi,
Donggala regency, and three in Palolo subdistrict, also in
Donggala regency.

Meanwhile, roads connecting Palu and several other cities in
Central Sulawesi were still obstructed due to flood and
landslides.

The road connecting Taweli and Toboli, for example, was still
covered with mud and fallen trees on Saturday, preventing cars
from using the road.

On Saturday, the Office of Settlement and Regional
Infrastructure had begun to clear the debris, but its efforts
were impeded by sporadic rainfall in the area.

Officials have advised motorists to take an alternative route
to reach Palu, and vice versa, for example, the Tambu and
Kasimbar route.

Meanwhile, Mashud said that floods and torrential rain had
also swept away 12 houses and severely damaged 22 houses.

Local residents complained that the government had yet to
disburse aid to them. Muhammad Amin, 35, a resident of Loli
Tosiburi subdistrict, claimed that he had lost his house and all
his furniture in the flood.

Mashud confirmed that the government had yet to disburse aid
to the residents, but quickly added that the aid, in the form of
building materials, would be immediately distributed to flood
victims.

Separately, South Sulawesi Governor Amin Syam said on Sunday
his province needed Rp 187 billion to rebuild infrastructure
damaged by floods and to help victims in 10 regencies and cities.

He made the statement during a discussion with Coordinating
Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, Minister of Social
Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah and Minister of Health Achmad Suyudi
and six regents and mayors in Maros regency, some 30 kilometers
from the South Sulawesi capital Makassar

Amin said the floods, landslides and a gale in South Sulawesi
had caused material losses of around Rp 100 billion and killed at
least 11 people, including five who were buried in a landslide in
Majene regency.

During the visit to Maros, Kalla donated Rp 1.5 billion,
Chamsyah Rp 250 million and Suyudi Rp 100 million for the victims
of the disaster.

Suyudi promised to give Rp 224 million more in assistance.

Kalla said the central government could not provide all the
funds needed by regions to rebuild infrastructure destroyed or
damaged by natural disasters.

This year, the House of Representatives approved only Rp 1
trillion to be allocated for emergency aid across the country, he
said.

Meanwhile, flooding has largely subsided in other areas across
the archipelago, but the worst is apparently yet to come.

Residents in the Riau capital of Pekanbaru, for example,
expressed concern on Saturday that floods might again hit their
area.

"Thick clouds still blanketed Pekanbaru on Friday and
Saturday. We fear that heavy rain will fall again and result in
another flood," said Nuraini, who was cleaning mud from her house
as she spoke.

Floods in Riau province have resulted in the deaths of three
children and inundated thousands of hectares of paddy fields in
five regencies.

The South Kalimantan capital Banjarmasin has been experiencing
storms since Friday, causing blackouts in several areas of the
city. Strong winds have ripped off the roofs of some houses in
the capital.