The Condition Of The Hangus Body Until The Lack Of Antemortem Data Becomes An Obstacle To The Identification Of Victims Of The Plumpang Depo Fire

Jalan Koramil, Rawa Badak Selatan, a residential area affected by the Pertamina Plumpang Depot fire was guarded by the police on Saturday, March 4. (ANTARA-M Risyal Hidayat)

JAKARTA - The National Police's Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team encountered problems in the process of identifying the bodies of victims of the Pertamina Plumpang Depot fire, North Jakarta. Some of them are the condition of the charred corpse to the lack of antemortem data.

"Our obstacle is the condition of the corpse, where the condition of the bodies that are not yet in the process is mostly perfect," said Karo Lab Pusdokkes Polri, Brigadier General Prima Heru to reporters at the Kramat Jati Police Hospital, East Jakarta, Tuesday, March 7.

So, with these obstacles, the identification process takes longer. Moreover, the DVI team must ensure that the body is repeatedly matched to the data received.

"Maybe we need a further crosscheck so that the results don't get unsatisfactory, that's our problem," said Prima.

In addition, the DVI Commander of the National Police, Kombes Ahmad Fauzi, had other obstacles during the identification process, namely the lack of antemotrem data. Thus, identification relies on DNA data that has been provided by the family.

"The lack of antemotrem data reported by family members is the main obstacle of the identification process that we are doing so long," he said.

"So we rely on the last reliable method, namely DNA. So the lack of antemotrem data," continued Fauzi.

For information, DVI Polri received 15 body bags and a bag containing body parts. Of the dozens of bodies, 8 have been identified.

Meanwhile, the side is still in process. It is hoped that the identification stage will be completed soon. Thus, the identity of the victim will be fully known.