Head of the Bandung Search and Rescue (SAR) Office, Ade Dian, said this measure was taken to prevent exposure to viruses and bacteria that could potentially originate from landslide material and victims' bodies.
"We received assistance from the Ministry of Health and the Health Service to ensure the health of the joint SAR team, in the form of vitamins and vaccines during the search," he remarked on Friday.
In addition to vaccinations and vitamin administration, medical personnel are also on standby in each search sector to anticipate any emergencies personnel that may be encounter during the operation.
“Given the potential risks in the field, the Health Office has stationed doctors or health workers at each search location to provide immediate assistance if needed,” Ade continued.
He informed that the West Bandung District Government proposed a 14-day search operation, with an evaluation scheduled for the seventh day on Friday to decide on a possible extension.
"Therefore, the SAR team are following the decision. There will be an evaluation of whether an extension is necessary. If all victims are found within seven days, the search can be stopped, depending on the results of the search," he explained.
Based on the latest data as of Thursday (January 29) at 6:30 p.m., the joint SAR team had recovered 55 body bags by the end of the sixth day, while approximately 25 other victims were still being searched for.
The identification process by the West Java Regional Police's Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team is also ongoing, with 41 body bags successfully identified.
Search operations are focused on sectors mapped as the most severely affected areas, while anticipating the potential for further landslides due to unstable soil conditions and extreme weather.
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Translator: Rubby Jovan, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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