The Head of BNPB, Suharyanto, said in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday that the relocation is necessary given the unstable soil contour of the areas, which has the potential to cause subsequent landslides after Thursday's landslide.
"The regional government has prepared the relocation site," Suharyanto added.
BNPB confirmed that search and rescue operations are still underway.
According to a temporary report from the operations post in Cilacap, he said, 20 people are still reported missing and are presumed to be buried under landslide material. Meanwhile, three people have been found deceased.
At least 200 joint personnel have been deployed for the search and rescue operations, including personnel from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).
"We have also brought in heavy equipment, water pumps, and ensured the basic needs of residents around the location are met," the BNPB head remarked.
BNPB also urged the community to refrain from doing any activities in the landslide area for safety reasons.
He affirmed that relocation is a vital step to ensure the long-term safety of residents living in high-risk areas, while also reducing the potential for similar disasters in the future.
Earlier, heavy and prolonged rainfall triggered a landslide in Majenang Sub-district, Cilacap, Central Java, on Thursday at around 8:00 p.m., burying nearby residential areas.
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Translator: M Riezko, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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