5 People Died And 20 Still Missing Due To Gorontalo Landslide, 230 Joint Personnel Deployed

Joint personnel for SAR operations in the mining area of the people of East Tulabolo Village, Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province. (ANTARA/Zulkifli Polimengo)

A total of 230 joint personnel from various agencies were deployed to search for landslide victims in the mining area of the people of East Tulabolo Village, East Suwawa District, Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province.

Head of the Gorontalo Search and Rescue Office Hariyanto said the personnel deployed consisted of elements of the TNI, Polri, Basarnas, BPBD and PMI Bone Bolango Regency, as well as RAPI Gorontalo.

"We divide them into several teams that will carry out SAR operations at the posts that we have determined," said Hariyanto in Gorontalo, Monday, July 8, which was confiscated by Antara.

He said, to facilitate the search process to evacuation, several personnel were also placed at a number of points that other personnel went through when evacuating the victims.

Given that the entire connecting bridge in the area has been confirmed to have been cut due to the flash flood.

The Gorontalo Police have also brought in sniffer dogs or K9, to facilitate the search for victims who are strongly suspected of being buried by landslide material.

The main obstacle faced is that the personnel must walk as far as 23.7 kilometers (km) from the main SAR Command Post to the mine site, with terrain conditions that are quite difficult to pass.

Not to mention that most areas in East Suwawa District are still raining with moderate intensity, making it difficult for personnel to carry out SAR operations.

"We have dispatched all the personnel involved. We hope and pray that this humanitarian operation can run safely and smoothly," he said.

Based on data, 33 people have been confirmed, with details of eight found dead, five were found safe but injured and broken bones, and 20 others are still in the process of being searched.