Member of Commission VIII DPR Mahdalena asked the government to optimize the search for 26 residents suspected of being buried by landslides in Situkung Hamlet, Pandanarum Village, Banjarnegara Regency, Central Java. He also emphasized that the search for victims must be carried out while prioritizing the safety of the SAR team.
"We hope that all missing residents can be found on this third day of the search process. But the safety of the SAR team must remain a priority," Mahdalena told reporters, Wednesday, November 19.
The PKB legislator also encouraged the government through the relevant ministries and the joint team to increase coordination so that the search process runs more optimally. He also asked the central and regional governments to pay full attention to the affected residents, including the provision of safe and comfortable posts.
"Food, clothing, and clean water must be a priority. Special needs for children and women should not be ignored," said Mahdalena.
Mahdalena also emphasized the importance of mapping landslide-prone areas to prevent repeated disasters. He reminded that Banjarnegara had previously experienced a major landslide on December 12, 2014 in Karangkobar District, which killed 95 people and made 13 people disappear.
"We don't want people to live in fear. The government must immediately take preventive measures so that disaster risk can be minimized," he said.
Reportedly, landslides in Banjarnegara occurred on Sunday, November 16 at around 15.30 WIB. However, the unstable soil structure at the location became the main obstacle of the search, even the SAR team reported the sound of soil fractures that increased the risk of further ground movement.
Meanwhile, data from the Pandanarum District Emergency Response Command Post recorded 937 affected residents. Two people died, while 48 houses were heavily damaged.
A total of 134 houses, three stalls, and two prayer rooms were lightly damaged. Landslides also hoard 800 meters of village roads and 670 meters of waterways. The total loss is estimated at IDR 31.123 billion.
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