Banjarnegara Landslide, Three Victims Found And 25 People Still Wanted

BANJARNEGARA The joint search and rescue (SAR) team again found the body of a landslide victim in Pandanarum Village, Pandanarum District, Banjarnegara Regency, Central Java, Wednesday, November 19 at 14:20 WIB. This finding adds the number of victims who died to three people, while 25 others are still missing.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said that the emergency handling post in Pandanarum Village recorded 934 people or 335 families were forced to evacuate. The survivors consisted of 454 men and 480 women.

"The refugees are now spread over five points, namely the Pandanarum District Office, Beji Village GOR, Pringamba Village Hajj Building, Muhammadiyah Building, and relatives' houses," he said, Thursday, November 20.

The results of the rapid assessment showed that 182 houses were affected by landslides, with details of 128 lightly damaged and 54 heavily damaged. Damage also occurred to a number of village infrastructures, including roads along about 800 meters, electricity networks, irrigation lines 670 meters, one building unit, and piping irrigation infrastructure.

The economic sector also suffered losses, including the loss of five cows, 125 goats, 14 stalls, and a number of agricultural land. In the social sector, one mosque suffered heavy damage, while two prayer rooms were lightly damaged and threatened.

The urgent needs of survivors include toddler diapers, toiletries, clothing, milk and children's food, hygiene kits, antiseptics, beddings, cleaning equipment, as well as personal protective equipment such as boots, gloves, and safety glasses. BNPB has prepared the fulfillment of these needs according to the direction of the Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto when inspecting the location on Tuesday.

As of Wednesday afternoon, search operations are still a priority with the help of heavy equipment and manual methods. On the other hand, the government also carries out geological monitoring, postal assistance, psychosocial and health services, providing public kitchens, logistics management, traffic regulation, and handling of victims' funerals. Daily evaluations continue to be carried out to strengthen coordination.

The search operation will continue today, accompanied by monitoring of geological conditions, support for posts, psychosocial services, handling logistics, operating public kitchens, and assistance to refugees.

A total of 521 personnel were deployed in this emergency handling. They come from BNPB, provincial and district BPBD, TNI' Polri, health workers, related agencies, PMI, SAR potential, community organizations, volunteer communities, as well as cross-regional support from Klaten, Wonosobo, Kebumen, Jepara, Pekalongan, and other regions.

The local government ensures that cross-institutional coordination continues to be strengthened to accelerate the search for victims, evacuation, and fulfillment of survivors' needs.