North Sumatra Aims to Complete 10 Aramco Bridges in Disaster-Hit Areas by March
The North Sumatra provincial government is constructing 10 bridges in areas affected by recent floods. By collaborating with the TNI, the construction is targeted for completion by March 2026 to accelerate the restoration of connectivity between regions.
Chairman of the North Sumatra Provincial Emergency Disaster Response Task Force, Basarin Yunus Tanjung, stated that the construction of the bridges is focused on two regencies that have experienced limited access due to the disaster, namely Tapanuli Utara (Taput) and Tapanuli Tengah (Tapteng).
“There are 10 bridges that we are currently building in collaboration with the TNI. Currently, eight bridges are ready,” he said on Thursday (February 26).
However, due to subsequent floods on February 11 and 16, one bridge shifted and was damaged. The bridge is currently under repair.
Basarin explained that the disaster-affected areas are not completely isolated because they can still be reached by two-wheeled vehicles or on foot. However, access for four-wheeled vehicles for the distribution of food supplies can only be provided after the bridge repairs are completed.
For Taput, the areas include the Sipaholon and Parmonangan sub-districts, such as Rura Julu Tomuan, Pertengahan, Huta Tua, and Huta Julu Parbalik villages. Meanwhile, in Tapteng, the areas include the Tukka and Sibabangun sub-districts, such as Saur Manggita, Sait Kalangan Dua, Sigiring-giring, and Sibio-bio villages.
In the construction process, the North Sumatra Provincial Government and the TNI are using the Aramco bridge model, which is a construction made of iron with a concrete plate, with the top part covered with soil. The provincial government is procuring the materials, while the TNI provides the equipment. In addition to bridge construction, excavation work is also being carried out along village roads.
“We hope that the weather will support us so that by March, four-wheeled vehicles can pass through to transport food supplies,” he said.
He also said that to anticipate the impact of extreme weather, the provincial government has carried out Weather Modification Operations (OMOs) from February 18-21 at two locations, namely Silangit Airport and Kualanamu Airport. This step was taken to break up the rainfall so that the rainfall is not concentrated in one area, which can hinder the progress of construction.
The provincial government recorded that since the end of November 2025, the number of residents affected by floods and landslides in the region has reached 1,803,725 people (479,047 households). As many as 376 people have died, and 40 others are still missing. “As many as 3,506 people or 909 households are currently in evacuation centers,” Basarin concluded. (H-2)