SAR Team Still Searching for 6 Missing Victims of Cianjur Earthquake

The Joint SAR Team evacuated the bodies of landslide victims due to an earthquake in Cijedil Village, Cugenang District, Cianjur Regency, West Java, Tuesday (29/11/2022). ANTARA/Andi Firdaus

CIANJUR - The combined Search and Rescue Team (SAR) is still searching for the six victims who disappeared after an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 in Cianjur Regency, West Java.

"Currently there are six more people who are being sought in two locations, namely Kampung Cijedil as many as four people, and Kampung Cicadas as many as two people", said Basarnas Search Mission Coordinator, Jumaril, at Basarnas Cugenang Post, Cianjur reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, November 29.

Until now the total number of victims who have been evacuated according to data from the Main Post is 326 people who have died.

"This number includes those who were evacuated independently by the community", he said.

Jumaril said that the process of searching for missing people in locations affected by the earthquake was experiencing problems with rainy weather which was difficult to control.

Basarnas in collaboration with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) monitors the daily weather situation around the search location. "If it is predicted to rain, for example in the afternoon, then we will advance the evacuation process to an earlier hour", he said.

Rainy weather often triggers subsequent landslides so that the pile of soil becomes thicker.

"The landslide material is extraordinary, very thick and slippery, aftershocks also need to be watched out for, because if there is shaking it can endanger our team", he said.

Basarnas has also assigned a Safety Officer to ensure that the operating field is in a safe condition.

"The goal is specifically to pay attention to the health of the volunteers of the joint SAR team involved in this major operation", he said.