Trans-Sumatra highway paralyzed

Trans-Sumatra highway paralyzed

PEKANBARU, Riau: Sections of the Eastern and Western Trans- Sumatra Highway connecting Riau to other provinces in Sumatra have been paralyzed since Friday, because of floods and landslides.

A section of the road that connects Pekanbaru with West Sumatra in the district of Koto Kampar in Kampar regency was flooded, and landslides had obstructed several sections of the road.

Idrus, a truck driver, said he went back to Pekanbaru on Friday because several sections of the road leading to Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, were submerged and hit by landslides.

The road connecting the province with Jambi was also paralyzed, because several sections of the road in Pelalawan regency were underwater.

Pelalawan land transportation office chief Darwis Alkadam confirmed it was impossible to go through the regency to Jambi because of the flood caused by the overflowing Kampar River, which had been rising since incessant rains began Monday. -- JP