Ministry of Public Works Moves Quickly to Address Floods and Landslides in Tanah Datar Regency
The Ministry of Public Works (PU) has moved quickly to address the impacts of floods and landslides that hit Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra, following heavy rainfall on Tuesday 12 May 2026. Response efforts focus on restoring access, normalising river flows, and emergency measures at several affected points.
Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo said the ministry continues to coordinate with regional governments and related agencies to accelerate response to ensure connectivity and the restoration of irrigation flow as soon as possible. ‘Irrigation and roads damaged by the disaster yesterday are now a shared responsibility, between district, provincial, and central governments, in line with Presidential Instruction. Especially since we are now entering the planting season, irrigation repairs must be prioritised,’ Minister Dody said during a visit to the Batang Tampo River in Tanah Datar on Thursday 21 May 2026.
Flooding was caused by extreme rainfall reaching 215 mm/day in the Lintau Buo area. The high water levels caused several rivers in the Indragiri basin to overflow, including Batang Tampo, Batang Piubuh, Batang Kawai, Batang Buo, Batang Selo, Batang Atar, and Batang Baburai. The situation was aggravated by sedimentation and narrowing of river channels.
The disaster affected seven sub-districts: Lintau Buo, Lintau Buo Utara, Tanjung Emas, Padang Ganting, Salimpaung, Sungai Tarab, and Tanjung Baru. Sixteen nagari/villages were affected with damage to various infrastructures, including 12 heavily damaged road segments, 13 partially damaged road segments, six bridges washed away, and damage to irrigation controls, ditches, pumps, places of worship, and residential areas.
To support emergency response, the Sumatera V Padang River Basin Authority (BWS) has deployed three units of heavy excavators, gabion materials, and HDPE pipes. The response focuses on restoring river flow, reinforcing banks eroded by the flood, and restoring the function of water resources infrastructure to minimise the risk of secondary floods.
The Ministry of Public Works continues to inventory damage and prepare rehabilitation steps with the local government. Medium- and long-term responses will focus on controlling river sedimentation, increasing river channel capacity, and strengthening flood-control infrastructure to enhance resilience to hydrometeorological disasters. (LAN)