Jakarta, Dec. 22 -- The Indonesian government is accelerating efforts to mitigate the impact of recent floods and landslides in Sumatra, including speeding up the removal of flood-borne driftwood through cross-sector collaboration.

Deputy Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki on Monday stressed the need to evaluate progress in Padang, West Sumatra; Aceh Tamiang and North Aceh in Aceh; and South Tapanuli in North Sumatra, while urging faster implementation.

He said cleanup work along the Padang coast has begun, involving eight units of heavy equipment and community participation, and is expected to be completed within four to five days.

In Aceh Tamiang, cleanup efforts are focused around the Darul Muchsin Islamic boarding school area, wit...