"First, the Health Crisis Center will activate the Health Emergency Operation Center to handle flood victims," an analyst for health crisis management at the ministry, Albert Nomeri, informed on Monday.
The second step is mobilizing the Health Reserve Staff-Emergency Medical Team (TCK-EMT) and assisting all survivors and refugees at Kubang Duo 08 Elementary School in Agam district, he added.
"We will maximize all human resources here to handle and help flood survivors," Nomeri affirmed.
He said that if areas affected by cold lava or flash floods require health logistics, his party is ready to fulfill their need through the West Sumatra Province Regional Puskris and the West Sumatra Provincial Health Service.
However, if the health logistics at both offices run out, the central Puskris from the Health Ministry will directly supply the needs.
During his visit to Bukik Batabuah village in Canduang sub-district, Agam district, which was hit by the flood, he reminded local residents to beware of post-disaster infectious diseases.
Local residents should remain vigilant against potential diseases after floods, such as diarrhea and acute upper respiratory infection (ARI). After a flood, sources of clean water are usually disrupted, he said.
He also reminded the public, especially refugees, to maintain body hygiene and wear masks to prevent or reduce the potential for the spread of disease.
On a separate occasion, head of the Padang City Search and Rescue (SAR) Office, Abdul Malik, informed that as of 1 p.m. local time on Monday, the joint SAR team had found six missing residents.
"Of the six victims found, two of them were identified by the family," he said.
The homes of two victims are known to be in Rangkat and Pandai Sikek villages of Tanah Datar district. Meanwhile, the unidentified victims had been handed over to Bhayangkara Hospital and Batusangkar Regional General Hospital (RSUD).
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Translator: Muhammad Zulfikar, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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