SAR Disaster Operations in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra Continue, Total Death Toll Reaches 1,016 Souls
BANDA ACEH - The government ensures that the search and rescue (search and rescue/SAR) operations for victims of hydrometeorological disasters in three provinces, namely Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, continue to be carried out in a measured and coordinated manner.
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"Our SAR operations are adjusted to the data of missing victims reported in each district/city," said Head of the Data, Information, and Communication Center for Disaster BNPB Abdul Muhari at a press conference to update the handling of Aceh's hydrometeorological disasters at the Information and Media Center of the Aceh Governor's Office, Banda Aceh, Antara, Sunday, December 14.
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Abdul Muhari explained that the decision to continue the SAR operation was taken after intensive coordination between BNPB and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), taking into account the dynamics of reports of missing victims in the field.
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According to him, the extension of the SAR operation is a form of the government's commitment to ensure that all reports of missing victims are followed up seriously and accurately.
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"Although in some areas the report of missing victims has been nil, the Basarnas team is still on standby because there is a possibility that victims will be found in other administrative areas nearby," he said.
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In Aceh Province, SAR operations are still underway in six districts, namely Bener Meriah, North Aceh, Central Aceh, Bireuen, Aceh Tamiang, and Nagan Raya.
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Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, search and rescue operations continued in Central Tapanuli Regency, South Tapanuli Regency, and Sibolga City.
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As for West Sumatra, SAR operations continued in Agam Regency, Padang Panjang City, Padang Pariaman Regency, and Tanah Datar Regency.
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Abdul Muhari said that victims found in different areas would still be strictly identified based on their names and addresses, then matched with population data to ensure the origin of the victim's area. This step is taken to maintain the accuracy of national data and prevent duplication of registration.
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In addition to the areas that are still actively carrying out SAR operations, a number of other districts are also on the Basarnas standby status. If there are new reports from families or the community regarding the alleged missing victims, the search operation will be reopened.
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The latest development, the joint SAR team led by Basarnas on Sunday found 66 dead victims, consisting of 33 victims in Aceh, 19 victims in North Sumatra, and 14 victims in West Sumatra. The government expressed its deepest condolences to all the victims' families.
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In the last week, the number of missing victims was recorded to have decreased by 58 people as a number of victims who were previously reported missing were found. The decline was also influenced by the results of the re-verification based on sub-districts carried out by the local government.
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"The identification process in the field is very dynamic. There are special cases, for example, bodies found in a cemetery area and it turns out to be a resident who has died before the disaster. After being verified, the victim data will be adjusted," said Abdul Muhari.
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On the same day, the SAR team also found 10 bodies, nine victims in Aceh and one victim in Agam Regency, West Sumatra. With the addition, the total number of deaths in the three provinces increased from 1,006 to 1,016.
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"Meanwhile, the number of missing people decreased from 217 to 212 people as the identification process and synchronization of cross-regional population data continued," said Abdul Muhari.