"The grant assistance can be used to repair residents' houses affected by the landslide," Head of the province's Communication and Informatics Office Hasan said in Natuna on Wednesday.
Based on provisional data, the landslide killed 12 people at least, while another 47 were still missing.
The landslide, which was triggered by extreme weather in Serasan on Monday (March 6, 2023), forced 1,216 residents to evacuate and damaged 27 houses.
The governor handed over the aid symbolically to Natuna district head Wan Siswandi when he arrived to review the landslide site on Serasan Island on Wednesday, Hasan informed.
The governor arrived at the outer island around 12 p.m. local time after a 45-minute helicopter flight from Natuna's capital Ranai. He was accompanied by chief of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, and other officials.
"After landing, the group immediately held a brief meeting at the cross-border post in Serasan, which is also serving as a disaster emergency response post. Then, the group visited the landslide location and some evacuation sites," Hasan disclosed.
During the visit, BNPB also handed over assistance in the form of five motorcycles and one kitchen car to help the landslide victims.
"According to the BNPB chief's directive, all incoming assistance, both in the form of goods and cash, should be quickly distributed to the people in need in evacuation camps," Hasan said, adding that the visit gave encouragement to the victims taking shelter at evacuation sites.
The group also reviewed the flash flood incidence and locations there. It was still raining in Serasan and telecommunications access had not returned to normal when they visited the area.
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Translator: Ogen, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
