Indonesia has restored functional access on major national roads across Sumatra following devastating floods and landslides late last year, though officials warn that a full recovery for the hardest-hit villages could take up to three years.

Public Works Minister Dodi announced on Monday that all affected national roads and bridges are now passable, ending the isolation of districts and cities. “At the county or city level, there are no longer isolated areas,” he said during a media briefing.

The progress marks a critical step after the November 2025 disasters, which caused casualties and widespread damage across North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces. The government mobilized a rapid response, deploying nearly 300 pieces of heavy machinery to clear debris and restore vital links.

However, the minister tempered optimism by noting that nearly 2,000 local roads and bridges at the village level remain severed, posing significant ongoing challenges for remote communities. “A full recovery in the three provinces is still expected to take two to three years,” Dodi explained, citing the complexity of rebuilding diverse infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and water systems.

The immediate focus, he said, remains on restoring normalcy for residents, prioritizing the reopening of every blocked passage. The longer timeline highlights the enduring impact of climate-fueled disasters on Indonesia's vast and often vulnerable archipelago.Editor/Cao Tianyi