The local authority in Luca Village, Viqueque Administrative Post, Viqueque Municipality, has warned about the risks faced by the community during the rainy season because the condition of the Weelolo River Bridge poses a threat to the safety and lives of the community.
Luca Village Chief, Manuel Gomes, called on the construction company to accelerate rehabilitation work on the Weelolo Bridge to prevent impacts that could occur during the rainy season. According to him, every year when the rainy season begins, the Weelolo River often rises significantly and sometimes causes flooding in areas near the river.
“Communities in this area are always concerned when there is heavy rain because the river can rise suddenly and block the road. This can threaten people’s lives, particularly children and the elderly,” Village Chief Gomes said at his office in Luca Village, Viqueque Municipality.
He added that the Weelolo Bridge rehabilitation project is very important to ensure access to Uma-Boot hamlet (suku) and facilitate local economic activity. Therefore, he called on the company to increase the pace of work, particularly before the period of heavy rain.
“This strategic infrastructure connects rural areas with the economic centre and contributes to the social and economic development of communities in Luca Village and surrounding areas,” he said.
The Village Chief said that the situation not only causes damage to roads and infrastructure but also creates major difficulties for communities in accessing basic services such as markets, schools and health facilities.
On the other hand, Site Engineer from the construction company, Inácio dos Santos, acknowledged that the project faces various challenges on the ground that have caused delays in the implementation of the work, particularly unpredictable weather conditions that prevent the work from proceeding according to the normal plan.
“During the past month, there has been heavy rain up until now, making the ground muddy and making it difficult to move heavy equipment. This situation also poses a risk to the safety of workers on site,” Site Engineer dos Santos said.
He added that although the company is committed to completing the project according to the contractual deadline, the reality on the ground has forced them to adjust their work methods and implementation schedule. However, the company will continue to make every effort to accelerate the work when weather conditions permit.
“Under the current conditions, we cannot force the work to proceed faster than technical standards allow because this could compromise the quality and safety of the bridge itself. We prefer to follow the proper procedures to ensure that the bridge is strong and durable,” he said.
He also asked the community to understand the situation and be patient during the construction process. He guaranteed that the company will continue to coordinate with local authorities to ensure that information continues to reach the community.
TDW’s observation on the ground showed that communities are currently using alternative roads when the river rises, but these roads are often unsafe and increase the risk of accidents.
