"On Tuesday evening, the DVI team received one body part while today, they got three more bodies," National Police spokesperson Sen.Coms.Ahmad Ramadhan informed.
Therefore, as of Wednesday, the National Police's DVI team has received 34 bodies to be identified, Ramadhan said at a press briefing at Dr. Haryoto Public Hospital in Lumajang district, East Java province.
On Wednesday, the DVI team identified seven more bodies, taking the total number of Semeru victims whose bodies have been identified to 17, he disclosed.
The identification could be carried out quickly thanks to the information provided by the victims' families to the DVI team about the victims' identification marks, including moles and tattoos, he said.
Among the Semeru victims who have been identified are Mani (60), Zakira Talita Salsabila (4), Ani Tri Hartini (23), Dwi Santoso (35), Mustofa (37), Budi Cahyono (40), and Didik Aprianto (30), he said.
Related news: Joint SAR team continues rescue efforts for Semeru eruption victims
Meanwhile, to evacuate victims of the Mt Semeru eruption, the East Java Police has prepared 14 excavators, which will be operated by Lumajang Police in coordination with the Mount Semeru Disaster Mitigation Agency.
Of the 14 excavators, four will be deployed in Curah Kobokan village in Pronojiwo sub-district and ten in Jarit village, Pasirian sub-district.
The East Java Police have also provided eight dump trucks, one tanker truck containing diesel fuel, and two trucks carrying excavators to assist in the evacuation of victims.
On Tuesday, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inspected areas affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru to ensure assistance for refugees.
"I come here to ensure that we have put in all our efforts to find the remaining victims and evacuate them," he stated in Lumajang district.
"We are also looking at the plan to repair infrastructure damaged by the eruption," President Widodo said.
Mount Semeru, located in two districts in East Java province -- Malang and Lumajang districts -- erupted on December 4, 2021, at around 3 p.m. local time. The mountain spewed incandescent lava while emitting rumbling sounds and thick gray smoke. (
Related news: Semeru eruption: victims in red zones evacuated to safer locations
Related news: East Java police's 14 excavators to evacuate Mt. Semeru victims
Translator: Zumrotun S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
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