Carry Out Heavy Equipment, Search For Ternate Flash Flood Victims Continued Today

The location of the flash flood in Ternate, North Maluku (doc BNPB)

The joint SAR team resumed the search for one flash flood victim in Rua Village, Ternate City, North Maluku, on Thursday morning after the SAR operation was stopped on Wednesday due to further flooding.

"The search for one victim on the fifth day divided into two groups and deployed a number of heavy equipment to the point according to the mapped target," said Head of the Ternate Basarnas, Fathur Rahman, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, August 29.

He said the obstacle experienced at the location of the search for victims was the matter of the weather, especially above the peak of Mount Gamalama which was seen covered by clouds.

"In addition to the weather, other obstacles such as mud material accompanied by large rocks, so that the search for victims is hampered," he said.

He explained, for the next group they expanded the search area by combing up to the shoreline.

Previously, the search for one flash flood victim was stopped on Wednesday (28/8) afternoon, due to aftershocks that overflowed through the flash flood route in Rua Village, Ternate Island District.

"We are temporarily stopping the search for one victim, because it is for the safety of every personnel involved in the SAR operation," said Ternate Police Chief AKBP Nicko Irawan.

Flash floods in Rua Village, last Sunday (25/8), killed 18 people and one is still missing, the natural flood also damaged 25 houses and one building masala.