A Total of 30 Bodies of Victims of the Natuna Serasan Landslide were Evacuated, 24 People are Still Missing

Basarnas members during the evacuation of the bodies in Pangkalan Village, Serasan, Natuna, Riau Islands, Thursday (9/3). (ANTARA/HO-Basarnas Natuna)

NATUNA - The joint SAR team evacuated a total of 30 victims of the landslide in Serasan, Natuna, Riau Islands.

"About 24 people are still being searched for," said Head of National Search and Rescue Agency Natuna Abdul Rahman in Serasan reported by ANTARA, Thursday, March 9.

Up to the fourth day of the search process, 693 people from the combined SAR elements have joined the Serasan Border Crossing (PLBN) Main Post.

The obstacles faced until the fourth day were the changing weather, the muddy and unstable ground conditions in the operating field and the insufficient support of heavy equipment.

It is estimated that today at least two units of heavy equipment, such as excavators, will arrive at Serasan from Ranai, Natuna.

"The condition of the ground terrain also has a lot of building debris and large fallen trees. Apart from that, the ground conditions are also wet and muddy which makes it a bit of a barrier for the Joint SAR Team to find and evacuate victims. However, the enthusiasm and cooperation of all elements made everything better," Abdul Rahman said.

Meanwhile, the Regent of Natuna Wan Siswandi assessed that Basarnas and the Indonesian National Police along with all other SAR elements had done very well to this day.

"So, it is hoped that all victims who are still being searched will be found soon," he said.