Thousands of Heavy Machines from Various Agencies Assist Sumatra Infrastructure Recovery
The heavy machinery is being utilised to clear landslide debris, reopen severed road access, normalise rivers, and restore residential areas. These assets serve as the backbone of the recovery efforts coordinated by the Sumatra Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force (PRR).
The scale of the response is reflected in the deployment of resources on the ground. The Ministry of Public Works (PU) has recorded the mobilisation of 1,709 units of heavy equipment across Sumatra, supported by additional fleets from state-owned construction enterprises (BUMN Karya) to accelerate emergency handling, restore connectivity, facilitate logistics distribution, and repair basic community infrastructure.
The Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, emphasised that all resources are being optimised to ensure that affected communities can return to normal activities as soon as possible. “We are moving swiftly to ensure that connectivity is maintained and that the basic needs of people in evacuation centres are met,” Dody stated on Wednesday (3/6/2026).
This heavy equipment support is distributed across various affected regions, including Gayo Lues, Pidie Jaya, and Aceh Tamiang in Aceh; the Tarutung-Sibolga section in North Sumatra; and affected areas in Agam Regency, West Sumatra.
Furthermore, the strengthening of the response is not limited to technical ministries. The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has also deployed at least 86 units of heavy machinery and 1s8 dump trucks to various affected points. In Aceh, heavy machinery is working to reopen isolated villages, clear mud-covered houses, and reinforce river embankments.
In West Sumatra and North Sumatra, the focus of the machinery is on reopening distribution routes, cleaning densely populated areas, and restoring inter-regional access to revitalise local economic activity.
The recovery collaboration also involves construction SOEs and the private sector. Heavy equipment support is provided by Brantas Abipraya, Wijaya Karya, and Komatsu, which has also distributed excavators to the Sumatra region. The involvement of various parties demonstrates that accelerating post-disaster recovery requires cross-sector cooperation to address dynamic field requirements.
The PRR Task Force has also responded quickly to specific regional needs in areas still facing threats of recurring landslides and floods. In Central Aceh, a request for heavy equipment assistance submitted by the Regent of Central Aceh, Haili Yoga, received direct follow-up from the Minister of Home Affairs, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Sumatra Post-Disaster PRR Task Force.
The assistance sent includes 14 dump trucks, 4 excavators, and 3 backhoe loaders, complete with operator support and fuel to sustain the recovery period. This equipment is being used to clear landslide material, repair road access, and normalise rivers in several high-risk locations.
“The arrival of this assistance from the Minister of Home Affairs will certainly greatly assist the people of Central Aceh. We have also just concluded a meeting with 42 villages affected by the disaster that urgently require this heavy machinery,” said Haili Yoga.