BNPB Reports 14 People Died Due To Landslides In Tana Toraja

The SAR team evacuated landslide victims in Tana Toraja (BNPB)

A total of 14 people died as a result of being buried by landslides in Tana Toraja Regency, South Sulawesi Province.

The landslide incident was triggered by high intensity rain in an unstable area on Saturday, April 13 at 22.30 WITA.

The location of the landslide occurred at two points, namely Lembang Randan Batu Village, South Makale District and Manggau Village, Makale District.

Based on a report compiled by the Operations Control Center (Pusdalops) of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Sunday, April 14, the details of the fatalities in this incident included three people died and one person was reported missing, while in Maale District 11 people died and two people were injured.

"The report on the results of the rapid assessment noted that material losses caused by this landslide included three housing units in Makale District and one housing unit in South Maale District, which were buried by landslide material," said Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari in a statement received by VOI, Monday, April 15.

Abdul said, until now the Tana Toraja Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in collaboration with the search and rescue team is still conducting search efforts for residents who are reported missing. The Tana Toraja BPBD Rapid Response Team also carried out assessments and made emergency response efforts.

As for this emergency response effort, the joint team faced obstacles, including weather conditions that still often rained with moderate to high intensity, difficult terrain because they were in the highlands to lack of lighting at night.

"The landslide point at several points along the road to Makale District has caused the road to be difficult for vehicles to pass, so the emergency handling team must walk to reach the location," continued Abdul.

Abdul also said that the urgent need for the joint team to date is heavy equipment to open road access and ambulance units to evacuate victims.