The search and rescue team led by Chief Brigadier Abdul Haris looked for the missing people on Tuesday, but failed, Senior Commissioner, spokesman of the Papua Police, said here, Wednesday.
The three persons - Ikena Wedna (32), Kiwera Morbi (24) and Kamal (baby), went missing after a flash flood triggered by incessant heavy rains, hit Goyage on Monday at around 7 p.m. local time.
The search operations continued on Wednesday despite difficult terrain and bad weather that had hampered the search effort.
The police officers also distributed relief aid for flood victims in the remote village.
Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, as it is located on the "Pacific Ring of Fire" where a large number of volcanoes and earthquakes occur.
During the January-December 2018 period, a total of 2,427 natural disasters hit Indonesia, leaving at least 4,821 people dead or missing, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB).
Last year, 2,350, or 96.9 percent of the natural disasters, were hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, landslides and whirlwinds, and 76, or 3.1 percent, were geological disasters, like earthquakes and tsunamis.
Although the number of geological disasters was lesser than that of hydrometeorological disasters, the geological disasters, including earthquakes and tsunami, had a greater impact than the hydrometeorological disasters.
Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Bambang Soesatyo recently called for vigilance against possible natural disasters.
Every district and city administration must consolidate and coordinate its disaster mitigation office (BPBD) to anticipate natural disasters, he said in a statement here.
"Every regional head whose region is prone to natural disaster must remain vigilant and cautious. Every element in BPBD must begin consolidation and anticipation," he said.
Reporting by Evarukdijati, Fardah Assegaf
Editing by Suharto
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
