Searches For Longsor Disaster Victims Of Serasan Island Extended By Three Days

The impact of landslides in Pangkalan Village, Serasan Island, Natuna Islands, Riau Islands, Sunday (12/3/2023). (Between/HO-Basarnas Natuna)

JAKARTA - The operation of the Joint Search and Rescue Team for landslide victims in Pangkalan Village, Serasan Island, Natuna Islands, Riau Islands was extended for the next three days because not all victims were found until the end of the emergency response period this Sunday. "The search for the seventh day of the victims of the landslide by the Joint SAR Team until the afternoon succeeded in evacuating two victims in a dead condition," said the Head of the Natuna Search and Rescue Office as the SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC) of the East Serasan and Serasan Disaster Response Team Abdul Rahman in Natuna, as quoted by Antara. He said the total number of victims who had been successfully evacuated by the Joint SAR Team 46 people died, one of whom has not been identified and eight people are still being searched. "In connection with the presence of victims who have not been found, we propose that the search and rescue operation for victims be extended for the next three days until March 15, 2023," he said.

He also hopes that with the extension of the search process, all victims who are still in search can be found immediately and the operation can run optimally considering the weather conditions that often change. "Muffled soil material remains the main obstacle in the search process. Various efforts continue to be pursued by Basarnas together with the entire Joint SAR Team at the location," he said.