Workers Died Buried By Landslides During Active Fault Research In Demak

A joint team while carrying out the evacuation process for victims of landslides in Sumberejo Village, Demak, Central Java, while assisting active fault research activities. (ANTARA/HO-BPBD Demak.)

The Demak Resort Police, Central Java, confirmed that one victim died as a result of being buried by landslides while assisting active fault research activities in Hamlet Sendang Delik, Sumberejo Village, Mranggen District, Demak Regency, Central Java.

Head of the Demak Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Kasat Reskrim) Iptu Anggah Mardi Pitriyono in Demak, Friday, explained that the victim was one of the casual daily workers who helped the research team from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in installing the earthquake detection device at that location.

"At the crime scene (TKP) there were three people, consisting of two workers and one BRIN researcher. Two people survived, namely one worker and researcher, while one worker died," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, September 26.

The victim who died was identified as Ahmad Zaedun (55), a resident of Sumberejo Village, who was buried by a landslide during the installation process on Thursday (25/9) at 13.30 WIB.

Initially, the victim was still helped manually because it was only buried by the waist. However, the subsequent landslide occurred when rescue efforts took place so that the victim could not be saved.

Until now, he said, his party was still investigating the causes of landslides and the work safety procedures implemented in the study.

"We are still asking BRIN for information, and for the bodies no further physical examination is carried out because the family is not allowed," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Emergency, Logistics and Equipment of BPBD Demak Suprapto Regency added that the Demak BPBD team in carrying out the evacuation with Basarnas because there were three people trapped in the excavation of land in Sumberjo Village, Mranggen District, on Thursday (25/9).

Initial information, he said, was received at around 14.00 WIB from volunteers. Then BPBD immediately mobilized personnel to carry out the evacuation. Including coordinating with the Semarang Basarnas and Jepara Basarnas, considering that the Demak area is included in the coordination of Semarang and Jepara Basarnas.

Based on information from a number of parties, he said, the incident began when three workers excavated land belonging to local villagers. The excavation is about 7 meters long, 1.5 meters wide, with a depth of 2 meters.

"It is suspected that the unstable soil structure trapped the workers in the hole because there was a landslide material," he said.

Evacuation efforts have been carried out since 14.30 WIB manually with a simple tool. Due to difficult soil conditions, the team also brought in heavy equipment. At around 16.10 WIB, the victim was successfully evacuated after joint efforts were made with the joint team and local residents.

"The first victim was found buried at a depth of 1.5 meters, but his life could not be saved. Meanwhile, two other workers managed to survive, so they immediately received medical treatment," he said.

In the process of evacuating victims involved various elements, including BPBD Demak, Basarnas Pos Jepara, Basarnas Pos Semarang, Polsek Mranggen, Koramil Mranggen, Babinsa and Bhabinkamtibmas Sumberejo, PSC 119, RPB Anglekusumo, TRC Anglingkusumo, village officials, and the surrounding community.

This incident adds to the record of high risk of field research in landslide-prone areas, especially in active fault lanes that cross Kendal Regency, Semarang, to Demak.