SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC) Desiana Kartika Bahari said in a statement here on Tuesday that the assessment results showed unstable conditions inside the mining area, requiring special search methods.
"The structure inside the mine has deteriorated at several points and the air quality is unfit, so the team must use special equipment such as Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) as well as SAR equipment for confined spaces," she said.
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) is SAR equipment used for confined spaces due to narrow mining tunnels with a diameter of approximately one meter.
The SAR operation was launched after Basarnas received a report from the public on Sunday (January 18) regarding the suspected entrapment of several local miners.
The incident was believed to have occurred since early Tuesday (January 13) after smoke emerged from inside the excavation area.
According to her, the excavation site is a mining area that has been closed by PT Antam, therefore the search process began with a comprehensive assessment to identify potential hazards to SAR personnel.
On Tuesday (January 20), the SAR team was divided into two groups, namely a search team tasked with entering the excavation area and a standby team responsible for evacuation and medical support.
Based on the latest report, three miners are still believed to be inside the mining pit area, identified as the initials of AK, AJ, and AD, all residents of Urug Village, Sukajaya Sub-district, Bogor District.
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Translator: Prasetyo, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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