Storm damage in Lombok

While images of Jakarta flooding fill the news headlines, our own project was also suffering from the severe weather.

On its weekly inspection tours of the new village, OBRI was able to inspect the damage. Five houses were destroyed in high winds. It was a huge blow to the project and moral. Having worked so hard and fast to stay on schedule, this was a major set back for the builders. 

With the rains continuing and the access road also damaged, rebuilding the houses would not be a simple task.  Plus there was the additional cost to worry about.

Fortunately no-one was injured when the winds ripped through the houses and sent them crashing down.

 

Seeing all the problems with rain, road access and lack of materials, it became clear that there was only one solution. CEO Martin Gow concluded that the priority was to get the road repaired first. This would mean materials could once again reach the site allowing the builders to build and rebuild. Even if it was still raining! He promised that this would be done immediately and OBRI would provide additional funds to ensure it happened. 

Rain, rain and more rain.

Along with the bad weather come new challenges. In the January storm, five houses were destroyed and will need rebuilding. More on this story later.

To add to the problems, the 12km track to the new village is now impassable. Heavy rain has washed away whole sections of road. As a result the delivery lorries cannot reach the building site and materials are running low.

To ensure the village is completed on schedule the answer had to immediate. OBRI met with Pak Camat to discuss the problem and agreed on a joint effort to repair the road. He was kind enough to supply the excavators and other heavy equipment, will OBRI provided funding, lorries and labour.

There was no time to loose as every day meant another days delay in finishing the project. Following the meeting with Pak Camat we immediately went to see what was needed. In total there were seven areas where the road had become a mud bath. Impossible for even cars to navigate.

It took 200 lorry loads of rock to repair the damaged road. Pak Camat promised the work would start the next day and true to his word, the repairs were completed in 4 days.

With the road temporarily repaired, materials to complete the village can now reach the site.

Thanks to everyone for working so fast to repair the road. And many thanks to Pak Camat for his support and cooperation.