Still, I recommend that we run it (the train operation) carefully by reducing the speed (of the train) and the number of passengers, if necessary.Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government will reconstruct the Bogor-Sukabumi railway track, which collapsed in a recent landslide, once the search and rescue (SAR) operation is completed, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has informed.
The landslide in Sirna Sari area, Empang village, South Bogor sub-district, Bogor city, West Java province, on Tuesday (March 14, 2023) was triggered after a cliff, with a height of 12 meters (m) and a width of 6 m, collapsed.
In a statement received here on Friday, the minister said that the first step in the reconstruction of the railway track will be piling, or the installation of the foundation to support overhead line equipment, which can only be implemented after the SAR effort is completed.
Afterward, his ministry will design the reconstruction of the railway track.
“… it will take us about three months to carry out a complete reconstruction,” Sumadi said.
Of the two railway tracks serving the Bogor-Sukabumi route, only one has been affected by the disaster.
While inspecting the railway tracks on Friday, Sumadi said that the track that was not affected by the landslide has been improved, thus Bogor-Sukabumi train operation can still run.
State-run railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) started the Bogor-Sukabumi train operation with a trial run on Thursday (March 16, 2023) and a full operation on Friday.
"Still, I recommend that we run it (the train operation) carefully by reducing the speed (of the train) and the number of passengers, if necessary," the minister said.
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He also asked the director general of railways at the Transportation Ministry, Mohammad Risal Wasal, to carry out the reconstruction of the railway track in collaboration with a number of stakeholders to expedite the process.
The stakeholders include PT KAI, the regional government, and the local community, he said.
He also appealed to the community to not reside in the area under the cliff.
The Transportation Ministry has provided heavy equipment to speed up the SAR effort.
As per the records of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Bogor city, the landslide claimed 6 lives, while 11 victims survived the disaster.
The bodies of the last 2 victims who were declared missing were finally located at 1:30 p.m. WIB on Friday.
“Thus, the search for the victims has been completed,” executive head of Bogor city BPBD, Teofilo Patrocinio Freitas, informed.
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Translator: Benardy Ferdiansyah, Uyu Liman
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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