Jokowi Orders His Men To Speed Up Evacuation Of Flash Flood Victims In NTT

President Jokowi (DOK. BPMI Setpres)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) ordered his staff to accelerate the evacuation process for victims of flash floods in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Jokowi asked the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Doni Monardo, Basarnas Chief Marshal Henri Alfiandi, TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, and National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo to increase the number of rescue personnel.

"Accelerate the process of evacuation, search and rescue of undiscovered victims. I ask the Head of BNPB, the Head of Basarnas, assisted by the TNI Commander and the Police Chief with all his staff to mobilize additional SAR personnel. So that they can reach more areas affected, including isolated areas", said Jokowi on the Presidential Secretariat Youtube, Tuesday, April 6.

Then, Jokowi also asked the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono to immediately deploy heavy equipment from various places.

"If the land route is still difficult to penetrate, I also ask that the opening of access by sea and air be accelerated", said Jokowi.

Besides, Jokowi asked health workers to be brought in immediately to treat injured victims who needed medical treatment. Jokowi asked Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin to immediately arrive at the disaster site.

"I ask the Minister of Health to increase the number of health service places in the field, also prepare hospitals to handle the victims, and ensure the availability of medical personnel and medicines", he explained.

Based on data from the BNPB Operations Control Center (Pusdalops) as of Monday, April 5 at 23.00 WIB, 128 people died in the NTT flood disaster. The details are Lembata Regency 67 people, East Flores 49, and Alor 12.

The total number of missing victims reached 72 people, with details of 28 people from Alor Regency, 23 Flores Timur, and Lembata 21.

2,019 families or 8,424 residents were displaced and 1,083 families or 2,683 other residents were affected. Local governments continue to update data from rapid assessments in the field. The people who fled were scattered in five districts in the NTT Province.