The National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) has officially adopted Sepablock, a disaster-resilient material technology, for an independent permanent housing project in West Sumatra. Produced by PT Semen Padang, this interlocking brick innovation serves as the government's swift solution to provide safe, livable, and earthquake-resilient housing for survivors of flash floods and landslides.
The initial step of this recovery effort was marked by the simultaneous handover of keys for model type-36 units across three priority affected regions: Padang City, Pariaman City, and Padang Panjang Regency. BNPB Principal Secretary Rustian explained that the construction of these sample units, which began in late March 2026, serves as a quality benchmark and technical evaluation basis before mass construction begins.
Overall, the target for independent permanent housing construction in West Sumatra is 695 units spread across nine regencies and cities. The largest allocations are in Padang Pariaman with 457 units and Tanah Datar with 101 units, while other affected areas receive varying allocations. Meanwhile, the Padang City Government is also proposing an additional 22 new housing units along with drilled well facilities for local residents.
In Kampung Tanjung, Kuranji District, Padang City, the handover of the sample unit was directly attended by Deputy Mayor of Padang Maigus Nasir. Meanwhile, in North Pariaman, deep gratitude came from Emridona, a resident of Sintuak Naras Village whose old house was completely destroyed by the disaster. The Sepablock building structure is believed to offer optimal protection as it is designed to withstand extreme weather.
The acceleration of post-disaster recovery in West Sumatra remains a top priority following the extreme weather brought by Cyclone Senyar. The government, through BNPB, is committed to expediting residential infrastructure reconstruction through collaborative use of local technology innovations tailored for disaster mitigation.
