With Tarpaulin Roofed Tents, Selayar Residents Affected By The NTT Earthquake Choose To Survive In Refugees

Residents in Selayar, South Sulawesi, affected by the NTT earthquake, chose to stay in refugee camps on Wednesday, December 15 / ANTARA PHOTOS

MAKASSAR - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi, said that residents affected by the earthquake in Pasilambena District were still living in refugee camps after the earthquake in Larantuka, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

"For current information, we don't know whether they have returned to their respective homes or not. However, the news is circulating that most of the (residents) there are still in refugee camps", said Selayar BPBD Head, Ahmad Ansar, quoted by Antara, Thursday, December 16.

He said, there were two sub-districts most affected by the post-NTT earthquake that was felt in Selayar, namely in Pasilambena and Pasimarannu sub-districts. However, the administrative location of Pasilambena District is located in the outermost island area of the Selayar Islands Regency.

"If residents in Pasilambena have evacuated since the first day of the earthquake, they evacuated themselves to save themselves", said Ahmad Ansar.

Regarding the data released by the Central National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), according to him, it is only temporary.

"The data for the 3,900 refugees is not yet real. The data was on the first day after the earthquake. Currently, the BPBD team continues to collect data on victims, considering that at the time of the earthquake, everyone was busy collecting information", he continued.

The data from the BNPB released was 3,900 people, with 17 evacuation points. Details, 2,200 people in Mintu'u, Puncak Majapahit 250 people, Langundi 50 people. Six evacuation points in Lambego totaled 900 people, three points in Lawaru as many as 500 people, and 30 refuge points in Pasimaranu.

When asked about the exact number of refugees, he said, the data had not been finalized. Because, to minimize confusion in the data of affected victims, so far his party continues to update the data, including coordinating with the local police to ensure refugee data.

"Currently, the data collection process is still in progress, so don't get confused about the data. If it's about real data, we'll report back after it's been re-recorded, including the affected locations and the victims", said Ansar.

Previously, the Acting Governor of South Sulawesi, Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, said that the impact of the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara in Selayar was in four sub-districts, such as in Takabonerate, Pasilambena, Passimasunggu, and Pasimarannu sub-districts. However, the worst cases were reported in Pasilambena and Pasimarannu sub-districts.

For logistical assistance for both affected victims, Sudirman said, he had instructed the team to immediately distribute aid, be it the medical team, public kitchens, and evacuation teams to affected locations. The aid shipments were sent in stages by ship, considering that the ship's space capacity was also limited.