Jakarta. The Public Works Ministry has reconnected all districts isolated by floods and landslides in Sumatra, with the government aiming to restore normal conditions in West Sumatra before Ramadan begins in February.

Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo said on Friday that as of day 52 after floods and landslides hit North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh, there are no longer any isolated regencies or municipalities.

“As of today, I can say there are no more districts or cities that remain isolated,” Dody told reporters.

He said all affected national roads and bridges have been restored to functional use. At the peak of the disaster, 99 national road segments and 33 national bridges were severed by flooding and landslides. While all are now passable, some repairs remain temporary and permanent reconstruction has yet to be completed.

Recovery challenges remain significant at the regional level, particularly in subdistricts and villages.

“We are now focusing on subdistricts and villages because there are still nearly 2,000 local roads and bridges that remain cut off,” Dody said.

In total, 2,710 units of regional infrastructure were damaged, including around 1,900 local road segments and 753 regional bridges. About 72% of local roads have been restored to functional condition, while only around 12% of damaged regional bridges have been handled.

Dody said progress on bridge repairs has been slow due to the severity of damage, with many structures collapsing or suffering major subsidence. Temporary solutions, such as Bailey bridges, are required in many areas.

“We are working closely with the military, police and local communities so these bridges can be restored as quickly as possible,” he said.

With national access restored, Dody said logistics and aid can now be distributed entirely by land, although further rehabilitation work is still needed.

To support longer-term recovery, the Public Works Ministry has proposed up to Rp 74 trillion ($4.8 billion) in additional funding. The request includes expanded disaster mitigation plans, particularly the construction of sabo dams, or check dams, in landslide-prone areas.

Dody said a recent landslide in Gayo Lues, Aceh, served as a warning to strengthen preventive measures. Sabo dams are designed to control water flow, sediment and debris to reduce downstream damage.

The ministry is also preparing dredging work at the mouth of the Tamiang River in Aceh. A special task force has been formed to widen the river mouth so floodwater and sediment can flow directly into the sea.

Separately, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said he is optimistic that recovery in West Sumatra will be completed before the start of Ramadan in 2026.

“For West Sumatra, I am very confident that conditions will return to normal before Ramadan,” Tito said after a coordination meeting in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said recovery efforts are focused on restoring road access and reducing the number of evacuees by relocating residents to temporary shelters or providing housing allowance funds. Aceh, he added, faces more complex challenges due to its varied terrain, but additional personnel could significantly speed up rehabilitation work.

Add as a preferred source on Google +