The SAR operation was conducted from Wednesday to Friday this week, the agency's head, I Putu Sudayana, informed ANTARA during a telephonic interview from Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara Province, on Thursday.
"The rescue workers continue their efforts to find the two missing residents by again tracing them around the disaster zone," he remarked.
The agency has extended the days for conducting the SAR operation at Adonara Island in line the government’s extension of its emergency response period until April 16, 2021, he noted.
As of Thursday, the rescue workers had found 72 bodies of residents killed in the flash floods that hit the island in the midst of extreme weather, triggered by the Tropical Cyclone Seroja, on April 4, 2021.
In East Flores District, flash floods submerged nine villages in the sub-districts of Ile Boleng, Adonara Timur, Wotan Ulu Mado, and Adonara Barat.
The affected villages are Nelemadike, Nelemawangi, Waiburak, Waiwerang, Oyang Barang, Pandai, Duwanur, Waiwadan, and Daniboa.
The debris carried during the flash floods not only claimed the lives of numerous villagers but also destroyed and damaged 77 houses and led to the collapse of five bridges.
As of April 8, 2021, a total of 163 people had lost their lives due to the tropical cyclone, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
"In total, 163 people died, while 45 others remain missing in East Nusa Tenggara," BNPB Chief Doni Monardo remarked.
Most deaths were reported in East Flores District, especially Adonara Island, he confirmed.
Apart from Adonara Island in East Flores District, the flash floods also hit some areas in 23 villages of Malaka District and certain areas of the districts of Lembata, and Sumba Timur as well as Kupang City.
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Benediktus SSJ, Rahmad Nasutio
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
