“This decision was made after all parties discussed the plan with the victims’ families, who also agreed to the use of heavy equipment,” Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno said on Thursday.
According to him, the joint team confirmed to the families that no signs of life were found under the rubble of the prayer room at the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School.
The families consented to the process by signing documents detailing the procedures.
BNPB head Lieutenant General Suharyanto explained that the agency had prepared 219 trained personnel, 300 body bags, 30 garbage trucks, 30 ambulances, and five cranes to support the operation.
If any victims’ families face difficulties with the burial process or transporting bodies outside the Sidoarjo area, the government is ready to provide full assistance, Suharyanto added.
Meanwhile, Basarnas’ Head of Operations Direction and Control, Emi Freezer, announced that the evacuation using heavy equipment will only be carried out until the afternoon.
“Due to limited lighting and visibility, and for the safety of officers on the field, we have decided not to operate at night,” he said.
Before the agreement to use heavy equipment, the agency conducted three field assessments to check for signs of life from Wednesday to Thursday, Freezer continued.
The assessments, conducted at 11:00 p.m. Wednesday, 2:00 a.m., and 7:00 a.m. Thursday, found no signs of life among the victims.
He also explained that debris removal with cranes would be carried out in stages, with reassessments after each phase to ensure safety throughout the process.
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Translator: Astrid Faidlatul Habibah/Fahmi Alfian, Resinta Sul
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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