PU Sends Personnel and Heavy Equipment to Tackle Sitaro Floods

The Ministry of Public Works (PU) swiftly took strategic steps as a form of full support for handling the emergency situation following the flash flood disaster that hit Siau Island, Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro) Siau Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province. The incident which took place on Monday (5/1/2026) in the morning at around 03.00 WITA had an impact on residential areas in Bahu Village, East Siau District, as well as Peling Sawang Village and Paseng Village in West Siau District.

The Minister of Public Works, Mr Dody Hanggodo, emphasized the high commitment of the Ministry of Public Works to be present to provide optimal support in every location affected by the disaster. “The Ministry of Public Works is mobilizing all its capacity and resources to deal with the impact of this flash flood. Life safety and immediate recovery efforts for the community are our main priorities,” stressed Minister Dody.

As part of the emergency response action, the Ministry of Public Works through the relevant technical centers has immediately distributed special personnel and alerted 2 (two) units of heavy equipment at the location of the incident to support the evacuation, search and cleaning of leftover flood materials. To strengthen operations, 3 (three) excavator units from Manado City have also been prepared which are ready to be mobilized to the disaster location.

Head of the River Basin Center (BWS) Sulawesi I Manado, Sugeng Harianto, said that intensive coordination continues to be carried out with staff in the field. “Our team always coordinates closely with officers in the archipelago area. After gaining ship access to Siau Island, the plan to send additional heavy equipment will immediately be executed to strengthen handling operations at the location, which is currently supported by available heavy equipment,” explained Sugeng.

By taking into account the unique geographical characteristics of the archipelagic region, the Ministry of Public Works is optimizing cross-sector coordination with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Basarnas, and local Forkopimda elements. This synergy is expected to expedite the mobilization of equipment, open access to affected points, and support the evacuation and search process more effectively.

Not only focusing on emergency management, the Ministry of Public Works has also carried out an initial assessment of damage to public infrastructure, including river networks, roads and other supporting infrastructure. The results of this identification will become the basis for comprehensive follow-up planning, in order to accelerate the rehabilitation and restoration process of the socio-economic life of the community in the affected areas.

This work program is part of “A Year of Working, Moving – Having an Impact” in implementing President Prabowo Subianto’s ASTA CITA.

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About the Communications Bureau of the Ministry of Public Works

The Ministry of Public Works (PU) is a state ministry in the Red and White Cabinet in the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. This ministry is in charge of public works affairs, namely: tasked with and responsible for the development and management of infrastructure in Indonesia, including roads, bridges, water management. The Ministry of Public Works is responsible to the President. Since October 21 2024, the ministry will be led by Dody Hanggodo.