SAR Team Adds Heavy Equipment to Speed Up Search for 32 Cisarua Landslide Victims

BANDUNG - A joint SAR team has added heavy equipment to speed up the search for 32 victims who are still buried in a landslide in Pasirlangu Village, Cisarua District, West Bandung Regency, West Java.

Basarnas Operations Director Bramantyo said today's search was focused on three main sectors, namely A1, A2, and B3, as well as the additional A3 sector which is located in a higher area near the foot of Mount Burangrang.

"We have divided the team after the apple. Since early morning, there have also been four additional heavy equipment, so the total is now 17 units," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 28.

He said that weather conditions were still a challenge because of the thick fog and rain that had hit the Pasirlangu area since Tuesday (27/1) night, so the team's movement adjusted to the situation on the ground.

As of Wednesday morning, the number of victims who have not been found is still 32 people, while previously as many as 48 body bags had been handed over by the SAR team to the West Java Police Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) Team.

Head of the Bandung SAR Office Ade Dian said the joint SAR team also received health support in the form of vaccination and vitamin distribution from the Ministry of Health and the local Health Office.

"We received help with vaccines and vitamins to maintain the condition of the search team. This is very meaningful considering the risks in the field," he said.

In addition, medical personnel are stationed in every search sector to anticipate emergency conditions for personnel on duty.

"At each location there is a team of doctors so that if something happens it can be handled immediately," he said.

Regarding the duration of the operation, Ade said the local government proposed that the search be carried out for 14 days, but an evaluation would be carried out on the seventh day, Friday (30/1).

"We are following the provisions. Later it will be evaluated whether it needs to be extended or not, depending on the search results," he said.