Tracking Dogs Deployed To Help Find Victims Of The Semeru Eruption

SURABAYA - The East Java Regional Police deployed three sniffer dogs or K9 to the location of the Mount Semeru eruption disaster in Lumajang Regency. The hope is that the sniffer dogs can help in the search for victims buried in volcanic material and ash.

"Today we added three K9 teams to support search operations in the Pronojiwo and Candi Puro areas," said Head of Public Relations of the East Java Police, Kombes Gatot Repli Handoko, in Surabaya, Wednesday, December 8.

Gatot said the search for victims of the Mount Semeru disaster was assisted by a joint team, starting from the TNI Basarnas, BNPB, and various volunteers.

In addition to using sniffer dogs, said Gatot, the East Java Police have also deployed 14 heavy excavators to support operations in evacuating victims and cleaning up affected locations.

"A backup team has also been dispatched from the Inafis Pus and then from the trauma healing team both from Headquarters and from the East Java Regional Police, to be placed in several refugee posts," he said.

Meanwhile, Gatot said that the DVI Team at Police Headquarters also received assistance in the form of a cooler container to store the bodies of the Semeru victims.

Currently the DVI Polri team has also opened a Hotline number for complaints from the public or families of victims of the Mount Semeru eruption with a cellphone number or WhatsApp 085 33533 0033.