As of Tuesday, only one police helicopter was supporting the rescue efforts of a joint team of rescuers while the number of people affected by the massive landslide that leveled an unauthorized gold mining pit in Tulabolo Village on Sunday (July 7) was recorded at 131.
"Therefore, we are coordinating with the TNI-AU regarding the need for deploying more helicopters to support the rescue operation," Basarnas head Kusworo remarked while emphasizing the need for more helicopters to accelerate the evacuation efforts.
As of Tuesday evening, 23 of the 131 people affected by the landslide were confirmed dead, 35 were still missing, and 73 were found alive though sustained injuries, according to Basarnas.
Kusworo alone directly monitored the search operation from the SAR command post in Tulabolo Timur Village, Suwawa Timur Sub-district, Bone Bolango District, along with the agency's operational director, Edy Prakoso.
He said rescuers heading from the command post had to walk about 23.7 kilometers to reach the mining pit in a remote area.
Hence, Kusworo believes deploying additional helicopters is the only approach to accelerate evacuation efforts.
Meanwhile, Basarnas' Operational Director, Edy Prakoso, stated earlier that rescuers continue to search for the 35 missing people amid the fact that landslide victims were found scattered across four different spots.
All spots become the focus of the search operation for the rescuers, he remarked while emphasizing that the number of those falling victim to the landslide is "temporary and subject to change" if villagers filed new reports.
Torrential rains lashed several areas of Gorontalo on Saturday (July 6), triggering flash floods and landslides.
Several bridges connecting access roads to the gold mining pit, located far from residential areas, collapsed.
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Translator: M.Riezko BEP, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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