SAR Operation Closed, 2 Victims Buried In Landslides In Sukabumi Declared Missing

The joint SAR team evacuated the body of Siti Hamidah (8), a victim buried by a landslide in Cisarakan Village, Loji Village, Simpenan District, Sukabumi Regency, West Java. ANTARA/ (Aditya A Rohman)

SUKABUMI - The National SAR Agency (Basarnas) stated that the SAR operation to search for victims buried by landslides in Sukabumi Regency, West Java was closed even though there were still two victims who had not been found.

"According to SAR standard operating procedures (SAR), search and rescue operations are carried out for seven days, unless there are things that are taken into consideration so that SAR operations can be extended. However, the search for two victims buried by landslides in Sukabumi Regency has not been extended according to the direction of the leadership," said the Coordinator of the Sukabumi SAR Post, Suryo Adi, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 10.

The two victims who have not been found are Ojang (53) a resident of Sirnasari Village, Pabuaran District and Eros (80) a resident of Rambay Village, Tegalbuleud District. With the closure of the SAR operation, the two victims were declared missing.

According to Suryo, after the closure of the SAR operation, the next process was replaced with monitoring. If later there is information related to the victim such as signs of the victim's whereabouts, then the SAR operation will be reopened.

His party apologized and appealed to the victim's family to let go. However, the joint SAR team involved in the SAR operation has made maximum efforts.

In addition, personnel in the field have also carried out various ways to find victims in each location, but until the last day the SAR operation of the two victims could not be found.

Obstacles in the search for victims, especially in Pabuaran District, namely heavy equipment cannot enter, then the areas affected by landslides are very wide plus heavy rains that fall every day, so personnel who are carrying out humanitarian operations must always be careful and alert, worried about further landslides.

"Regarding the closure of the SAR operation, we have conveyed it to each of the victims' families. Even though it is difficult, they can accept it and let it go," he added.

Suryo said that landslides and floods in Sukabumi Regency on Wednesday (4/12) resulted in 12 residents being declared missing.

However, during the search and rescue operation, the joint SAR team managed to find 10 victims dead, while the other two were declared missing.