35 Residents Missing In Serasan Natuna Landslide, Head Of BNPB Asks To Prioritize Search

The SAR team lifted a bag containing the bodies of victims of flash floods and landslides in Genteng Village, Pangkalan Village, Serasan District, Natuna Regency, Riau Islands, Wednesday (8/3/2023). ANTARA/HO-BNPB

NATUNA - Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Letjen TNI Suharyanto asked the joint team to prioritize the search for residents affected by landslides in Serasan, Natuna Regency, Riau Islands.

Suharyanto said that as many as 35 residents were still missing, and it was suspected that they were still buried in avalanche material with a depth of up to 4 meters.

"For the 35 residents who are still declared missing, we will try our best to find them," said Suharyanto in a written statement quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, March 8.

Suharyanto confirmed that the personnel of the joint task force team would be added, bearing in mind that the coverage area affected by the landslides was quite extensive and required more members.

In addition, BNPB, National Search and Rescue Agency and Brimob will also seek sniffer dogs so that the search, rescue and evacuation process can be maximized.

"Basarnas, TNI, Polri are working continuously. Even the elements of the TNI and Polri are continuously being added. Hundreds of Brimob personnel plus sniffer dogs to help the existing troops," said Suharyanto.

According to Suharyanto, the main obstacle in the search, rescue and evacuation process also comes from the weather factor.

In the past week, the weather conditions on Serasan Island have always rained almost all day with light to high intensity. This condition certainly does not allow the search process to be carried out so it must be temporarily stopped.

"But due to weather constraints, this continuous rain is sometimes stopped," said Suharyanto.

Seeing the field conditions, Suharyanto and the Governor of the Riau Archipelago have agreed to coordinate and cooperate with BRIN, BMKG and the TNI for the possibility of implementing Weather Modification Technology (TMC).

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In addition to minimizing the impact of rainfall, Suharyanto hopes that later the TMC can expedite the process of search, rescue and evacuation.

"BNPB in collaboration with BMKG, BRIN and the Indonesian Air Force will deploy weather modification technology on Serasan Island. So that the weather can be bright and the search can be carried out, "concluded Suharyanto.

The victims who died in the landslide disaster in Serasan District were 15 people.

On Wednesday (8/3) until 15.00 WIB, the joint task force team recovered the victim's body. The additional findings will still be recorded and identified further to be reported as national data.