Bridge Collapse in Panga

This was shocking to us! Last 6 days ago, we just awarded one supplier for bulk buying. They will send their materials from Meulaboh to our sites on the West Coast. It means they will pass this bridge. With this situation, they have to change the route. The roadway from Banda Aceh to the West Coast is not much better than Meulaboh's.

Below is the email of Eka Rinanda from the Aceh Jaya Field Office
Office of the United Nations Recovery Coordinator for Aceh and Nias (UNORC): Today at around 12.00 am a UNORC Calang received a report of a bridge (bailey bridge) collapse in Panga. A 30 - 40 MT JICS truck loaded with sand/gravel, which was trying to cross, stumbled into the river. No casualties were reported - there was only one driver and no passenger, but the truck is still in the river. The location is in the Ulee Titi sub-village, Keude Panga village, Panga sub-district. The bridge is not totally disconnected but twisted halfway through; therefore, it is not passable for vehicles. Motorbikes can go through, some reported, but passengers have to get off.

I contacted Samaritan's Purse in Panga for the above-detailed information and informed the BRR Regional Office here. I have called Dewi Elyana in our Meulaboh office, and she will inform NGOs/Agencies in Meulaboh about this situation and maybe talk to the JICS office there. From the BRR side, Saliza will contact Banda Aceh for a follow-up. I also heard that Oxfam may have planned to fix this bridge, and they have checked on the spot today. I will confirm this with Oxfam Calang.

I attach photos taken by ACF staff for your clear description of the damage. It is critical for Aceh Jaya, especially now that we hear about the fuel shortage in Calang and the need to get supplies from Meulaboh. The email sent on Mar 9, 2006 3:01 PM

Arwin Soelaksono - Disaster Response & reConstruction