North Halmahera Ministry of Public Works prepares emergency embankments

The Indonesian Ministry of Public Works is preparing emergency embankments to address flooding in North Halmahera, North Maluku. The flooding occurred in Tabobo Village, Malifut District, after the Somi River overflowed due to high-intensity rainfall on October 31, 2026.

Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo stated that the priority is to restore access, repair embankments, and ensure smooth river flow to minimize the risk of subsequent flooding. The North Maluku River Basin Organization (BWS) has deployed a rapid response team to survey the cause of the overflow and is mobilizing excavators from West Halmahera to assist in the recovery efforts.

As an initial mitigation step, the BWS is planning to excavate sediment from the Somi River channel to be used as material for the emergency embankments.