The SAR Team Evacuated Four Victims, A Total Of 39 Deaths Due To The Semeru Eruption

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

LUMAJANG - The number of victims who died due to the Mount Semeru disaster increased to 39 people. This figure increased after the joint SAR team again found four victims who died on the fifth day of this search.

"With the addition of four people who died today, a total of 39 people died", said Head of Operations for the Surabaya SAR Office, I Wayan Suyatna, confirmed on Wednesday, December 8.

Wayan said the four victims were found in the Dusun Curah Kobokan. The first and second victims, known to be male and female, were successfully evacuated at 06.00 WIB.

Meanwhile, the third victim, a male (aged a child) was evacuated at 09.45 WIB. The fourth victim, a male, was evacuated at 10.45 WIB.

"After being evacuated from the location of the discovery to a safe point, the bodies of the four victims were taken to Dr. Haryoto Lumajang Hospital for identification", he said.

There was an additional death toll on Tuesday, December 7, in which one injured victim, Suliadi, 49, who was referred to the Soebandi Jember Hospital died. Thus, the number of victims who died due to the hot cloud avalanche of Mount Semeru changed to 39 people.

Meanwhile, on the fifth day after the disaster, said Wayan, three SRUs (Search and Rescue Unit) were deployed to search for victims in three sectors. The search was carried out with light equipment, such as hoes, shovels, and chainsaws.

SRU one consisting of 150 people searched for sector A, namely in the hamlet of Curah Kobokan. SRU two consisting of 125 people conducted a search in sector B, namely in the Haji Satuhan Mine area. "The third SRU (Search and Rescue Unit) consists of 80 people conducting searches in sector C, namely in Kebondeli hamlet and Renteng village", he said.

Wayan admitted that there were obstacles encountered during the search process, namely heavy equipment (vehicles) could not enter sector B. This was because access to both sectors was blocked by piles of sand, and soil was carried away by floods, on Tuesday night.

"Another obstacle was due to cloudy weather conditions during the day and visually, the peak of Mount Semeru was covered by thick clouds. Thus, the search effort was temporarily suspended for the sake of all personnel involved in the search", he said.