Police Identify 11 Victims Of Mount Marapi Eruption

Officers brought the bodies of victims of the eruption of Mount Marapi in Nagari Batu Plano, Agam Regency, West Sumatra Province, Tuesday (5/12/2023). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Muhammad Arif Pribadi/aww

The West Sumatra Regional Police Disaster Victim Identification Team (Polda) as of Tuesday at 20.22 WIB has identified 11 of 23 people who are thought to have died due to the eruption of Mount Marapi.

"A total of 11 people have been identified," said the Head of the Medical and Health Division of the West Sumatra Police, Kombes drg. Lisda Cancer in Bukittinggi was reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 5.

Lisda said that almost all of the victims of the eruption of Mount Marapi who died and survived suffered burns to their body parts.

The victims of the eruption of Mount Marapi who died were taken to the Achmad Mochtar Regional General Hospital (RSAM) Bukittinggi for further identification.

The West Sumatra Police Team identified the victim based on the results of fingerprint examinations and signs on their bodies and belongings.

"For victims whose fingerprints cannot be used, then we have other methods, such as dental examinations, moles, tattoos, wounds, birth certificates, surgical marks, and so on," he explained.

If these efforts have not yielded results, the team of doctors will conduct a DNA examination to identify victims.

Acting Head of the West Sumatra BKSDA (West Sumatra) Dian Indriati confirmed that 20 climbers died as a result of the eruption of Mount Marapi. 12 of them have been identified.

"We can convey here that the total number of climbers remains at 75 according to the booking order data. Congratulations 52 people, 40 without serious injuries, 2 serious injuries, 20 people died with 12 identified records," said Dian Indriati in an interview with Kompas Malam TV program quoted by VOI, Tuesday, December 5 evening.

It was also stated that there were 3 climbers who were still on evacuation trips. "3 people are still in the process of going down to the evacuation process," he said.

There was a moment of eruption of Mount Marapi, the hiking trail was closed with a radius of 3 kilometers from the summit.