West Pasaman Police Send Dozens Of Personnel Looking For Longsor Victims

Photo: Doc. Antara

West Pasaman Resort Police (Polres), West Sumatra deployed dozens of personnel to help search for victims buried by landslides in Tinggam, Jorong Harapan, Nagari (Village) Sinuruik, local district.

"There are about 60 active members who help search for victims, evacuate and help residents cross the landslide location," said Head of Ops for the West Pasaman Police, Kompol Muzhendra at Simpang Empat, quoted by Antara, Saturday, December 6.

According to him, members of the West Pasaman Police joined other teams, such as from Basarnas, TNI, PMI sub-districts, nagari and other volunteers in looking for victims.

"As of Saturday morning, of the five victims who were buried by landslides, two new people were found, namely Yelma Yunita (41) and Raffael Gusti Pratama (7)," he said.

Meanwhile, the other three victims, Dian Fernanda (24), Amrizal (38) and Nurhayati (35) are still being searched for by a joint team.

"The search for victims has so far been hampered by rainy weather. However, the search will continue to be carried out through heavy excavator equipment and manually," he said.

While looking for victims, he said, his party also helped carry the luggage of residents of Bateh Samuik Jorong Tinggam crossing the landslide location.

"Until now, the location of the landslide cannot be passed by vehicles, both four-wheeled and two-wheeled, so the people of Bateh Samuik Tombang have to walk on landslide material," he said.

He appealed to residents who want to cross the landslide location either to Bateh Samuik Tombang or to come out to remain careful because the road is still landy and slippery.

One resident who crossed the Tinggam Boy landslide (30) hopes that their road access can be passed by at least two-wheeled vehicles.

Wali Nagari (Village) Sinuruik, Frianton ensured that logistics distribution for disaster-affected residents in Bateh Samuik Tombang could be carried out by means of relays delivered by officers.

"For Jorong Tombang, there are around 333 families who are isolated and accessed due to landslides that occurred on Friday, November 28," he said.