One Village In Natuna Riau Islands Is Buried By Landslides, The Number Of Casualties Has Not Been Recorded

Landslides in Kapung Molon, Pangkalan Village, Serasan District, Natuna Regency, Riau Islands, Monday (6/3). (ANTARA)

NATUNA - A rural village was buried by landslides that occurred in Pangkalan Village, Serasan District, Natuna Regency, Riau Islands (Kepri). The number of fatalities is not yet known.

"As it rained non-stop, there was a massive landslide that occurred in Pangkalan Village (Kampung Genting) covering houses and roads in the Molon area," said Johan Wahyudi, a resident of Pangkalan Village, via a short message received by ANTARA, Monday, March 6.

According to him, seeing the conditions that occur, it is certain that there will be casualties, but it is not certain how many because landslide material is still buried.

"There is definitely a victim, but I don't know how many there are. It has the potential for dozens of people. The signal is completely dead, the electricity is completely out, I got a signal from Pulau Panjang," he said.

Three villages in the area around the landslide have fled to a safer place, because there are still subsequent landslides. Residents who fled include Genting Village, Air Raya, and Kampung Air Sekain.

While the preliminary report from the Acting Commander of Koramil 06/Serasan, Sergeant Major (Serma) Rahmansyah Saragih, revealed the chronology of the incident at 11.15 WIB there was a large landslide on the slopes of the hill that hit the village to the highway.

Currently, according to Rahmansyah, the highway that connects the Astaka area to the Koramil is paralyzed and cannot be crossed due to landslide material closing the road.

"Further landslides are still happening, the houses of residents affected by landslides cannot be counted, while 10 people have died who have been successfully evacuated," he reported.

Currently, it is known that Basarnas, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Natuna Regency and Kodim 0318/Natuna have deployed two ships and one RIB to go to the location, namely Serasan Island. From the capital city of Natuna Regency, Ranai, to Serasan Island using a fast boat in normal weather conditions for about 5 hours.