JAKARTA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is prioritizing the construction of dams and permanent bridges as part of post-disaster recovery efforts following flash floods in Sumatra, including Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo said on Friday.
Dody said restoration of a number of damaged bridges has yet to be completed due to significant changes in river conditions caused by the floods, which widened river channels and reduced water depth.
"The design has to be completely adjusted," he said, adding that the government is also accelerating dam construction to mitigate the risk of further flooding during the rainy season.
He acknowledged that recovery efforts in Aceh have progressed slowly, as large volumes of logs and rocks accumulated in upstream river areas continue to obstruct infrastructure rehabilitation and cleanup operations in affected locations.
In addition to restoring public infrastructure, the government is focusing on removing mud deposits from agricultural land and rehabilitating irrigation networks to support food self-sufficiency targets in Aceh and surrounding areas in 2026. ■