Cirebon Regency Government Stops Search For Landslide Victims Of Mount Kuda Mine, 4 People Declared Missing

JAKARTA - The Cirebon Regency Government, West Java has officially stopped the search for landslide victims in the excavation C mining area on Gunung Kuda after considering the safety aspects of all joint personnel in the field.

Cirebon Regent Imron said the decision to terminate was taken in a cross-sector coordination meeting involving the TNI, Polri, Basarnas, BPBD, and volunteers.

"Based on input from all parties, we declare that the search has been officially stopped. The consideration is the safety and security of the officers," he said at ANTARA's report, Thursday, June 5.

He emphasized that starting at 15.00 WIB, all search activities were stopped and access to the landslide point was closed to the public, including the victim's family.

There are no more search activities. The location is completely closed. We hope the victim's family understands this decision," he said.

Imron said that until this termination decision was taken, there were still four victims who had not been found.

According to him, the data has been verified again and the victim's family has been sincere and approved that the search operation be stopped.

"This morning the sub-district together with the family conveyed the latest information. A total of four victims have not been found," he said.

He explained that the structure of the terrain at the mine site is still unstable and is very risky to trigger further landslides, so it is not possible to continue the evacuation process.

The joint team, he said, had carried out search efforts for several days, but were often constrained by steep terrain, as well as soil movement around the location.

Imron asked all parties not to conduct searches independently, and submit complete handling to the competent authorities.

"This decision has gone through careful consideration. We don't want any additional victims in the search process," he said.

Previously, joint officers had succeeded in evacuating the bodies of 21 victims who had been buried by landslide material on Mount Kuda. Meanwhile, four other victims have not been found.