Increased, Thursday Morning BNPB Reported 67 People Died Due To West Sumatra Lava Floods

BUKITTINGGI - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) noted that the total number of victims of the cold lava flood in Mount Marapi in West Sumatra who died increased again to 67 people, Thursday, May 16 morning.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari said in a statement that based on the latest reports received, the number increased after the joint SAR team managed to find several people who had previously been reported missing.

This is because, in the report received by the BNPB Pusdalops, the number of missing victims currently remains 20 people from the previous 35 people.

One of the victims who was found dead was Halimatu Sa'diyah, a resident of Bugik Batabuah, Canduang District, Agam Regency, whose body was found about 5 kilometers from where it was reported missing, Wednesday (15/5) afternoon at 11:00 WIB and has been buried.

In addition, the number of affected families was 989 families, which also decreased from the previous 1,543 families, and the number of injured victims increased by 44 people from the previous 33 people.

The victims were confirmed to have come from five districts/cities affected by the cold lava flood disaster in Mount Marapi, namely Agam Regency, Tanah Datar, Padang Pariaman, Padang City, and Padang Panjang.

"Everything is still in the process of being searched and identified, so it can still change," he said, Thursday, May 16.

However, he ensured that all the needs of the victims and residents affected by the disaster in the Minang area would be met during the emergency response period for the next 14 days starting Monday, May 13.

Even the head of BNPB Suharyanto, according to him, continues to report the conditions for handling the impact of the hydro-meteorological disaster to President Joko Widodo who asks that all priority needs be met quickly, including ensuring that efforts to prevent potential aftershocks can be carried out properly.