Prabowo Asks BNPB To Accelerate Handling Of Cilacap Landslide Victims

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has confirmed the handling of the landslide emergency response in Cilacap Regency, Central Java, which currently still leaves missing victims to be carried out quickly as instructed by President Prabowo Subianto.

"The president expressed his condolences. He ordered BNPB to move to the field and help resolve the handling of landslides in Majenang until the emergency response period was over," said Deputy for Emergency Management of BNPB, Budi Irawan, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, November 15.

In the coordination meeting with the Cilacap Regency Government, Budi ensured that 512 joint officer personnel had been deployed involving Basarnas, BPBD, TNI, Polri, Tagana and various other volunteer organizations.

BNPB also increased the number of heavy equipment to eight units and lowered sniffer dogs (K9) to speed up the search for landslide victims that hit Cibeunying Village, Majenang District, Cilacap.

"The basic needs of the affected residents are met through public kitchens and health posts that have been operating to serve residents and SAR officers," said Budi.

BNPB confirmed data from an emergency post in Majenang reported that until at least Friday (14/11) night there were as many as 20 missing victims in the search.

The search operation was carried out very carefully considering the difficult terrain and it was added that it was still raining moderately so that it was prone to further landslides.

Meanwhile, a number of families living around the landslide center have also temporarily evacuated to safer places in the assistance of a joint team of officers.

BNPB appealed to residents to remain vigilant because light to moderate intensity rain still has the potential to occur until Sunday (16/11), especially in the Majenang basin area which is prone to ground movement.