PU Minister Reveals Latest Condition of Infrastructure in Sumatra Disaster Areas

The government is racing against time to restore infrastructure damaged by disasters in the Sumatra region. As the rehabilitation of national roads and bridges in North Sumatra continues, extreme weather has again caused damage to temporary shelters (huntara) for disaster-affected residents in North Aceh. The Ministry of Public Works (PU) has recorded at least 274 points of damage to the national road and bridge network in North Sumatra due to disasters that have occurred since late 2025. Of that total, 99 locations are targeted for completion this year, while the remainder will continue in stages until 2028. “Road and bridge access is the main key to logistics movement, emergency services, and the community’s economic recovery. Because of that, from the beginning we have worked without pause to ensure that isolated areas can be handled as quickly as possible. Public safety and mobility are our priorities,” said PU Minister Dody Hanggodo. Handling is carried out on five main corridors of the national road, with a total segment length of around 500 kilometres. After emergency response work was completed in early 2026, the government is now entering the permanent rehabilitation and reconstruction phase. To date, overall handling progress has only reached approximately 18.31%, equivalent to 45 locations that have received permanent treatment. A number of construction points are still ongoing on various strategic sections such as Tarutung-Sipirok-Padang Sidempuan, Tarutung-Sibolga, Batangtoru-Singkuang, and the Sibolga-Batangtoru-Padang Sidempuan route. Amid these recovery efforts, extreme weather remains a challenge. Strong winds that hit Langkahan District, North Aceh Regency, damaged dozens of huntara units that are still occupied by disaster-affected residents. Based on local government data, damage occurred to 36 units of Rumoh Rayeuk huntara, five units in Langkahan Village huntara, seven units in Bukit Linteung huntara, and 10 units in Geudumbak huntara. “The government is moving quickly to ensure that affected communities receive the necessary handling. We have coordinated directly with the Minister of Public Works, and repairs to damaged huntara are targeted to be completed within seven days,” said Safrizal ZA, Head of the Aceh Region Command Post of the Sumatra Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force.