Seven Bridges in Taluak, West Sumatra Damaged by Flooding

The Regent of Tanah Datar, Eka Putra, alongside the Head of the West Sumatra National Road Implementation Agency (BPJN), Elsa Putra Friandi, personally inspected the condition of bridges damaged following the overflow of the Batang Tompo river in Nagari Taluak, Lintau Buo District, on Sunday (17/5). This inspection was conducted as part of the Local Government’s rapid response to infrastructure damage caused by natural disasters, ensuring immediate handling to maintain the smooth flow of community activities.

Regent Eka Putra and his delegation observed the serious damage caused by the strong currents of the Batang Tompo river after intense rainfall hit the area. The Regent stated that these bridges are vital access points for the local community, making their repair a top priority to prevent disruptions to citizen mobility.

“This is the fifth day since the Batang Tompo overflow damaged several bridges in Nagari Taluak. Today, we specifically came with the Head of BPJN West Sumatra to devise a strategy for addressing this issue,” he said. He emphasised that the Local Government will continue to coordinate intensively with BPJN West Sumatra and other relevant parties so that the repair process can be realised promptly, through both emergency measures and subsequent reconstruction.

“Specifically in Nagari Taluak, seven bridges are damaged, including four suspension bridges and three permanent bridges. God willing, following this visit, the damaged bridges can be rebuilt immediately,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Head of BPJN West Sumatra, Elsa Putra Friandi, stated that his agency will immediately assess the damage data to facilitate rehabilitation and reconstruction, ensuring the bridges can be utilised by the community again. “We will immediately conduct a thorough technical study of the bridge conditions to determine the most appropriate form of handling based on the level of damage,” he concluded.