Saturday, 02 May 2026
TAPANULI TENGAH | INDATANEWS.COM ~ Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, on Friday (February 13, 2026) directly inspected flood-hit areas in Tapanuli Tengah (Tapteng), North Sumatra, following renewed flooding earlier this week.
He was accompanied by Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Chief of Staff Richard Taruli Horja Tampubolon, Tapanuli Tengah Regent Masinton Pasaribu, and Deputy Regent Mahmud Efendi.The visit focused on the heavily damaged "Perintis Garuda" suspension bridge in Tukka, which was once again impacted by severe rainfall on February 11.
Read Also:Bridge and Homes Damaged Again
Pratikno stated that intense rainfall in recent days had triggered new problems that require immediate and coordinated action from the military, police, and regional authorities.
Sediment previously cleared from the riverbed has once again blocked water flow due to the high intensity of rain, worsening flood conditions in the area.As a result, the bridge built by the TNI suffered renewed structural damage. Residential homes that had already been cleaned after earlier flooding were inundated again.
Read Also:Pratikno emphasized that President Prabowo Subianto has instructed all government agencies to accelerate efforts to restore normal life in affected communities.
Despite the challenges, the central government, regional administrations, the military, and police are working intensively to stabilize conditions and support residents.
Task Force and Presidential Decree to Accelerate RecoveryTo strengthen coordination, the central government has established a special task force for accelerated rehabilitation and reconstruction in three severely affected provinces: Sumatera Utara, Aceh, and Sumatera Barat.
Read Also:In addition, a Presidential Instruction (Inpres) has been issued to expedite rebuilding efforts, including financial assistance for homes with minor damage.
"The President wants this process to move swiftly. We are mobilizing all national resources together with regional governments to stabilize the situation," Pratikno said.
With Ramadan approaching, ensuring access to clean drinking water has also become a key priority for the government.Call for Permanent Flood Protection
Regent Masinton Pasaribu urged the central government to prioritize the construction of permanent embankments, stressing that temporary flood barriers are insufficient during extreme weather."If we rely only on temporary dams, they will easily be swept away by strong currents. We need permanent protection to prevent water from entering residential areas again," he said.
After inspecting the suspension bridge, the delegation continued to SMA Santu Fransiskus Pandan private school in Pandan district, which was also affected by flooding. Teachers and students welcomed the minister and his entourage during the visit. (IDNC)
