Landslide closes vital road

Landslide closes vital road

PALU, Central Sulawesi: A landslide has buried a crucial part
of the Trans-Sulawesi Highway between Palu and Donggala in
Central Sulawesi, disrupting transportation in that part of the
island.

Antara reported that the landslide occurred in an area called
Kebun Kopi, with about 50 meters of the highway covered by mud
and earth.

Work was still underway to clear the road yesterday, Antara
reported.

To overcome the problem, trucks and buses unload their cargo
and passengers at Kebun Kopi and take on cargo and passengers
from the other side of the obstacle.

Bambang Soenaryo, an official of the Central Sulawesi public
works office said the area along the Trans-Sulawesi highway is
prone to landslides, especially when it rains a lot.

The provincial government has proposed upgrading the road with
Rp 9 billion in financing from the World Bank, Bambang said.
(emb)