Deputy Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki on Monday stressed the need to evaluate progress in Padang, West Sumatra; Aceh Tamiang and North Aceh in Aceh; and South Tapanuli in North Sumatra, while urging faster implementation.
He said cleanup work along the Padang coast has begun, involving eight units of heavy equipment and community participation, and is expected to be completed within four to five days.
In Aceh Tamiang, cleanup efforts are focused around the Darul Muchsin Islamic boarding school area, with eight excavators planned to operate.
Based on drone measurements, the wood pile covers about two hectares, reaches up to 4 meters in height and totals roughly 80,000 cubic meters. The cleanup is estimated to take seven days.
In North Sumatra, cleanup of wood debris in the Garoga River has been underway for nearly 20 days, reducing the material to less than 20 percent of its original volume.
However, Marzuki said limited access has slowed the delivery of heavy equipment. A joint team has been deployed to normalize the river, build emergency bridges, and clean residents' homes and public facilities.
He also urged the proper use of the cleared wood, saying it could be used to help build temporary housing for flood victims.
Addressing risks posed by wood remaining in upstream areas, Marzuki said preventive measures were being prepared.
"I have asked a related institution to deploy drones to assess the area and identify access points, while the wood will be cut to reduce the risk of being swept away during rainfall," he said.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
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