“As of today, I can say there are no longer any isolated districts or cities,” Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo told reporters during a disaster response briefing in Jakarta.
He said all national roads and bridges affected by the disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra are now operational, allowing the movement of people, logistics and emergency aid.
Official records show that 99 national road sections and 33 national bridges were initially cut off by floods and landslides. All have since reopened, although some remain temporary structures and have yet to undergo permanent repairs.
Major challenges persist at the local level, particularly in sub-districts and villages, where damage is more extensive and access remains limited.
“Our focus has now shifted to sub-districts and villages because nearly 2,000 local roads and bridges are still disconnected,” Hanggodo said.
He said the disasters damaged a total of 2,710 units of local infrastructure, including about 1,900 local road sections and 753 local bridges.
So far, around 72 percent of local roads have been restored to functional condition, according to the ministry.
Progress on local bridge repairs, however, has reached only about 12 percent, reflecting the scale of destruction in many areas.
Hanggodo said many bridges collapsed or were completely washed away, requiring emergency solutions such as Bailey bridges before permanent structures can be built.
With national access restored, he said aid distribution can now be carried out entirely by land routes, though some roads still require further reinforcement and repairs.
Devastating floods and landslides struck the three Sumatra provinces in late November 2025 after days of intense rainfall triggered river overflows and slope failures.
According to National Disaster Mitigation Agency data as of Jan. 16, 2026, the disasters have killed 1,190 people, with 141 others still missing.
More than 131,500 residents remain displaced as recovery efforts continue, while the government works to restore damaged infrastructure and reduce the risk of further disasters during the rainy season.
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Translator: Bayu Saputra, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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