"(After) receiving the report, we dispatched a rescue team from the Gunungkidul SAR Post in addition to personnel from the Yogyakarta SAR Agency to search for two victims, who are buried by the landslide," Head of the Yogyakarta Search and Rescue (SAR) Agency, Kamal Riswandi, remarked here on Saturday.
Due to rainfall from Friday (November 18) to Saturday morning, landslide had occurred and buried several houses and two people in Blembem, Candirejo Village, according to the Gunungkidul Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).
He said the dispatched team would coordinate with the Gunungkidul BPBD and other stakeholders in the region and establish a joint SAR post to conduct search operations.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the operation plan was divided into two Search and Rescue Units (SRU): the SRU 1 that will conduct the search with methods of water spraying and simple equipment, such as a shovel, and SRU 2 with a landslide search stick.
Riswandi said the buried victims' names are Kasoijoyo, 90, and Karni, 54, both residents of Kandangan, Blembem.
“The two victims are members of families. Until now, the joint SAR team is still conducting searches," he remarked.
Furthermore, he expressed optimism that the weather on Saturday would be conducive, so that the search process for the two victims could be maximized.
However, in the event of rainy conditions at the search location, the team would halt the operation, considering that the ground was still unstable and perilous for the joint SAR Team.
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Translator: Sutarmi, Kenzu
Editor: Suharto
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