To support the search, rescue, and evacuation attempts (in Natuna District), BNPB also includes Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency) as well as disaster mitigation volunteer teams in the flight,
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Lieutenant General Suharyanto is headed to Natuna District, Riau Islands Province, on Tuesday, to ensure emergency response attempts following landslides that struck the region on Monday (March 6).

"The head of BNPB (Suharyanto) departed from the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base (Jakarta) at 1:20 p.m. WIB (Western Indonesia Standard Time) using a Hercules C-130 aircraft,” Acting Head of BNPB’s Center for Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Abdul Muhari said in a statement.

Suharyanto is scheduled to land at the Sadjad Ranai Air Base, Natuna District, on Tuesday afternoon, according to Muhari.

A landslide hit the villages of Pangkalan and Jermalik in Serasan Sub-district, Natuna District, on Monday afternoon. Another landslide also occurred at Air Nusa Village, East Serasan Sub-district, Natuna District.

In Serasan Sub-district, the disaster claimed 10 lives, while 42 people were declared missing, five people were seriously injured, and three others were slightly injured.

The disaster also caused 219 residents of Serasan Sub-district to take refuge at the Cross-Border Post (PLBN) Serasan, 215 people at the local community health center (puskesmas), and 282 people at the Serasan 1 Public Senior High School (SMA).

In addition, a total of 500 people took shelter at the Pelimpak refuge post and Al Furqon Mosque.

Upon his arrival in the district, the BNPB head will chair a meeting with the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda) of Natuna District regarding post-disaster handling of the landslides, Muhari revealed.

"To support the search, rescue, and evacuation attempts (in Natuna District), BNPB also includes Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency) as well as disaster mitigation volunteer teams in the flight," he said.

In addition, the agency also brought four large refugee tents, 100 family tents, 500 blankets, 500 mattresses, 15 units of 2 kilovolt-ampere (kVA) generators, 1,500 food packages, 1,500 ready-to-eat meal packages, 200 camp beds, as well as 100 salt lamps.

Furthermore, the BNPB will distribute fund assistance for emergency response attempts.


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Translator: Devi Ramadhan, Uyu Liman
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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