Pekalongan Landslide: 22 People Died, Search 5 Missing Victims Continued

The SAT Team evacuated disaster victims in Pekalongan, Central Java (doc BNPB)

PEKALONGAN Searches for landslide victims in Kasimpar Village, Petungkriyono District, Pekalongan Regency, Central Java, is entering its third day. The joint SAR team again found one body, Thursday, January 23, increasing the number of victims who died to 22 people.

The latest victim was Diyatno (41), a resident of Gumelem Village, Petungkriyono District. His body was found at around 12.05 WIB at a depth of two meters, about 200 meters from the house of the village secretary (sekdes) Kasimpar, one of the four main search locations.

"Yes, about 200 meters more than Pak Carik's house (sekdes)," said Darmanto, the victim's nephew who helped in the search.

Darmanto explained that although his uncle's body had been buried for three days, he still recognized the body through the physical characteristics and clothes worn.

"From the physical characteristics, especially the warped legs, and the batik clothes used, I'm sure it's my uncle," said Darmanto.

According to him, Diyatno became a victim of a landslide while taking shelter at the village secretary's house after returning from the wedding. Heavy rains that flushed the area triggered a major landslide that made Diyatno and several other residents not have time to save themselves.

As of Thursday afternoon, official data recorded 22 deaths from landslides. In addition, 13 people were injured, while five people were still missing.

The joint SAR team continues to conduct intensive searches in four main locations affected by landslides. The evacuation process was hampered by difficult terrain and uncertain weather, but search efforts continued to find victims who were still missing.