PRR Task Force Prioritises Permanent Mitigation in Post-Disaster Areas

The Percepatan Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi (PRR) Task Force for Sumatra has stated that permanent mitigation measures must be prepared immediately to prevent similar disasters from recurring. Heavy rainfall in Central Tapanuli Regency on Saturday (18/7) caused rivers to overflow, flooding several areas, particularly in Tukka District, though floodwaters have since gradually receded. Field monitoring on Monday indicated that the flooding was triggered by high-intensity rain lasting more than an hour and a half, causing river water levels to rise and overflow into residential areas. The flood also carried sediment that blocked water flow at several points, including a bridge that serves as a vital link for community activities. Brigadier General Fadjar Tjahjono, Coordinator of the North Sumatra PRR Task Force, explained that emergency response was carried out swiftly through collaboration between the local government, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and other relevant parties. Heavy equipment was deployed to clear sediment from around the bridge. Fadjar emphasised that mitigation efforts must go beyond emergency response, stating that riverbank reinforcement is a priority. He noted that simply piling up dredged sediment is insufficient; instead, embankments must be strengthened with stone or gabions to prevent mud from re-entering settlements when water levels rise. Strengthening embankments, managing river basins, and protecting flood-prone points are priorities to ensure that post-flood handling does not stop at clean-up but continues into more permanent and sustainable solutions. Fadjar added that the government has provided budget support to accelerate rehabilitation and reconstruction, urging local governments to immediately optimise the implementation of mitigation programmes according to field needs to significantly reduce flood risk. During the emergency response period, the Central Tapanuli Regency Government, through the BPBD, together with the TNI, Polri, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and the community, moved quickly to evacuate affected residents in the districts of Tukka, Badiri, Pinangsori, and Sarudik. The Central Tapanuli Social Service also set up a public kitchen at the HKBP Sipange Church Hall to meet the basic needs of the displaced. Preliminary data recorded that 67 families, or approximately 223 people, were affected by the flooding and had sought refuge before conditions gradually improved.