Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) announced on Monday that the search and rescue operation for victims of the landslide in Cilaja, Central Java province, has been expanded on the fifth day of the emergency response.
Abdul Muhari, Director of the Disaster Data and Information Center, stated that the expansion was due to the discovery of several new locations suspected of containing bodies.
The joint search and rescue team has divided the search area into several zones to expedite and streamline the evacuation process.
As of 11:00 AM local time, the search and rescue team had recovered three bodies, bringing the death toll to 16. Seven residents remain missing, and the joint search and rescue team continues its search.
He added that personnel from the Indonesian National Security Agency (Basarnas), the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and volunteers are participating in the operation.
Furthermore,
Two heavy equipment vehicles from the regional and provincial governments have also joined the search and rescue efforts to assist in clearing rubble from the landslide site.
Muhari stated that the good weather this morning allowed rescue teams to continue their operations, a stark contrast to the delays caused by rain and slippery terrain in previous days.
Rescuers are also conducting manual searches in areas inaccessible to heavy machinery. This combined approach is considered effective in locating victims in confined spaces.
The National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) will continue to monitor the progress of the operation and ensure adequate resources are available for the search and rescue efforts.
The landslide occurred around 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 13th, affecting multiple homes in the village of Chibenin, Majnan district, Cilazza.
The disaster damaged 12 homes and threatened 16 others, affecting an area of approximately 6.5 hectares. It also caused a 2-meter-deep ground subsidence and a 25-meter-long ground fissure.
