Villagers of Tetingi Desa, Gayo Lues Repair Bridge in Just Two Days

Gayo Lues — Residents of Tetingi Village, Pantan Cuaca District, Gayo Lues Regency, Aceh, required only two days to repair a suspension bridge that had been severely damaged by a flash flood, restoring access for the community.

Village Head Mahmud, 41, stated that the bridge repair was carried out through voluntary community contributions and mutual aid. “The community came together to meet our needs and repair the bridge through gotong royong in just two days,” he explained.

The approximately 20-metre suspension bridge was originally constructed by the government in 1994 and had undergone no maintenance until a partial upgrade in 2021 using village fund allocations. At that time, the wooden planks were replaced with an iron frame structure for improved safety.

However, the bridge sustained severe damage during the flash flood that struck on 26 November 2025, with support pillars cracking and the deck splitting. With no government relief effort yet underway, residents took the initiative to repair it independently to restore connectivity.

According to village government records, Tetingi Village is home to 133 households with a total population of 418 residents, all of whom were affected by the flooding disaster and depend on the bridge for daily activities. The materials used for the repairs were partially funded through adjusted village budget allocations.

Although now functional, the bridge can only safely accommodate pedestrians and motorcycles, with the latter requiring additional safety assistance from several people acting as stabilisers. Village Head Mahmud expressed hope that the central government, through the military and national police, will undertake permanent repairs to the bridge, given its critical importance as a lifeline for residents in the Gayo Lues highlands.