SAR Operation Of Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School Enters The Evacuation Stage Of Death Victims

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto /ANTARA HO BNPB

JAKARTA - The search and rescue operation (SAR) for victims of the collapse of the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School building in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, has entered the evacuation stage for victims who died with heavy equipment.

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto said the decision was taken after the joint SAR team no longer found signs of life under the rubble of the four-story building.

"There are no signs of life anymore. The joint SAR team decided to enter the next stage, namely evacuating victims who died using heavy equipment," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, October 2.

Suharyanto had accompanied the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Pratikno to have a dialogue with the families of the victims who participated in a series of SAR operations from outside the collapse zone of the pesantren building.

According to him, the victim's family agreed to continue the SAR operation and stated that they were ready to accept the results of the evacuation.

The victim's family had agreed and asked us to continue the SAR operation using heavy equipment. They have signed the minutes," said Suharyanto.

The joint SAR team reported successful evacuation of seven new victims, five of whom were in safe condition and two others died on Wednesday (1/10) night.

The evacuation process at that time was carried out completely manually to maintain the safety of victims and rescue teams.

Based on BNPB data, as of Thursday afternoon, a total of 108 victims had been evacuated. Of these, 30 people are still being treated in hospital, 73 people have been allowed to go home, five have died, while 58 others are still being searched.

"The team prioritizes caution given the unstable condition of the building," he asserted.