Beijing (ANTARA) - The remains of National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho could be flown by a Garuda Indonesia aircraft from Guangzhou, China, to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday at 03.45 p.m. local time, Indonesian authorities said.

The Garuda Indonesia aircraft serving flight number GA-899 was expected to arrive at the Cengkareng-based airport at about 08.30 p.m. local time, General Manager of Garuda Indonesia's Guangzhou Office Suzana Argentine Walandouw said.

The Indonesian Consulate General in Guangzhou also confirmed the Garuda Indonesia officer's information on the repatriation of Sutopo's remains.

"May everything go smoothly," Walandouw said, adding that late Sutopo's wife Retno Utami Yulianingsih and several relatives would also join the same flight. Shortly after arriving, Sutopo's remains would be carried to the mourning house.

From the mourning house, which is located at Raffles Hill Block i6, No 15, Harjamukti, Cimanggis, Sukatani, Tapos, in Depok city, West Java Province, Sutopo's remains would then be transported to Boyolali in Central Java Province for burial.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho who had suffered from lung cancer since 2017 died on early Sunday while being treated at the Guangzhou St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital on June 15, 2019.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi had contacted Sutopo's wife to express her condolences.

The BNPB announced that it suffered a tremendous loss in the passing of its senior spokesman, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. The BNPB received the sad news from Sutopo's wife and his son's Twitter account.

Sutopo was confirmed by doctors to get lung cancer in December 2017. The cancer that he suffered had spread to his body's bones and several other vital internal organs.

However, despite his serious illness, Sutopo remained committed to his professional work as the agency's spokesperson.

Amid his ongoing endeavor to receive medical treatment, he still held regular press briefings to update information on the impact and mitigation efforts of such catastrophic disasters as the Lombok and Palu earthquakes and tsunamis, BNPB said.

"We all suffer a tremendous loss in the passing of Mr.Sutopo. May almighty Allah Subhana Wa Taala accept his good deeds, and enable the mourning families to cope with this loss and grief patiently," the BNPB said.

Translator: M.Irfan Ilmie, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Bambang Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019