Joint SAR Team Holds Search Operations For 22 Missing Victims Of The Semeru Eruption For A Week

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

JAKARTA - The fourth day after the eruption of Mount Semeru, the joint SAR team is still carrying out operations to search for missing residents.

The Search and Rescue (SAR) team under the coordination of Basarnas targets a one week search time for victims. This was conveyed by Danrem 083/Baladhika Jaya Colonel Inf. Irwan Subekti in a press conference, Tuesday, December 7th.

Irwan Subekti, who is also the Commander of the Command Post (Posko) for Disaster Emergency Response Impact of Hot Clouds Falling Mount Semeru, said that 22 people were still missing.

Search efforts were focused on Renteng Village, Sumberwuluh Village and the Kobokan Curah Village area. In the search operation, Irwan said the joint team was very concerned about security and safety aspects in the field.

"Search from morning to evening by paying attention to the weather in Lumajang. Almost every day, every afternoon on average it rains. Search efforts are greatly influenced by rainy conditions in the field," he said in a written statement.

Efforts to search for residents who are still declared missing will optimize the capabilities of the personnel in the field, who are also assisted with heavy equipment. Irwan reminded the vigilance of the condition of volcanic material that is still hot and rainy conditions at the top of the mountain in order to avoid cold lava floods.

The Command Post prioritizes search operations and handling displaced residents. Regarding the missing sand miner, his party will confirm the identity of the victim, who is currently still in the identification process.

Of the 34 people who died, 10 of them have not been identified.

Irwan also said that there were 4,250 people who had evacuated, spread over several points in Lumajang Regency and only 1 point, each in Malang and Blitar Regencies.

The number of people displaced in Candipuro Subdistrict is 1,733 people, Pasirian 974, Tempeh 400, Pronojiwo 295, Lumajang 199, Pasrujambe 197, Sukodono 191, Sumbersuko 67, Jatiroto 56, Yosowilangun 28, Ranuyoso 26, Rowokangkung 16 and Gucialit 8.

Meanwhile, Lumajang Regent H. Thoriqul Haq said the local government was trying to provide optimal services to survivors.

He conveyed that for the short, medium and long term handling of residents in refugee camps, his party will transfer residents who have fled to educational facilities, such as elementary, junior high and high schools in Lumajang.

"The refugee camps are now located in several public facilities at the village and sub-district halls, then they will be relocated to schools. We are currently making an inventory of elementary, middle and high school schools that can be used as shelters," said Thoriqul.

The process of relocating the affected residents' settlements is currently in the process of identifying locations, which prioritizes land owned by the government and local governments.