SAR Dispatched to Search for Victims of Merapi Rain Mudflow with Tracking Dogs

JAKARTA - A joint SAR team deployed K-9 tracking dogs belonging to the Magelang Police and used unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) technology to speed up the search for victims of the rain mudslide on the slopes of Mount Merapi, Magelang Regency.

The Joint SAR Commander Arif Yulianto said that tracking dogs were deployed to detect the whereabouts of the victim who was suspected of being buried under the material. The dogs combed the area that had been mapped out earlier based on witness reports and findings in the field.

The effort was carried out following the difficulty of the search area due to the accumulation of sand, stone, and mud materials up to several meters in depth at several points along the river channel. In addition, the lava flow which was previously strong also caused a change in the contour of the river making it difficult to identify the location of the victims. Until now, two victims have not been found in the incident,

"There are several methods, the first of which we use K9, then we use manual screening, the personnel are poking around. Yes, for drones we also use it, the goal is to map the area along the Senowo River," he said.

He said that the use of drones was carried out for visual monitoring from the air. Drones are periodically flown to map the affected areas, monitor the movement of materials, and identify potential victim locations.

From the results of aerial monitoring, he said the team could see the pattern of deposit of lava material, the latest flow path, to the area prone to subsequent landslides. The visual data was then used as a basis for determining the priority of clearing by the team.

"The goal is to make it easier for us to detect it with drones. For our difficulties, it is with the thickness of the sand material and also the unpredictable weather," he said.

In addition to focusing on the search, the SAR team also pays attention to the safety factor of personnel. Every movement of the team is carried out under strict supervision given the potential for subsequent lava floods if the rain returns to the peak area.

Until now, the search process is still ongoing and the team continues to expand the search area according to the results of field analysis and aerial monitoring. Officers urge residents not to approach the affected location for the sake of mutual safety and provide space for the SAR team to work optimally.