"What is important now is evacuation. Do it first before we talk others. Focus on it,"Jokowi said after visiting the scene of the landslide.Banjarnegara, Central Java (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo observed the impact of landslide in Jemblung helmet in the village of Sampang, Banjarnegara, Central Java, on Sunday, that had left 39 people dead.
President Jokowi as he is also called has called for prioritizing evacuation of victims.
"What is important now is evacuation. Do it first before we talk others. Focus on it," he said after visiting the scene of the landslide that happened on Friday evening.
He said excavators would be deployed to open access to the scene to ease evacuation efforts.
President Jokowi said that many locations in Central Java are vulnerable to landslide incidents.
In view of that and due to current rainy season he called on the people in the region especially those living in prone areas to remain alert.
President Jokowi, accompanied by First Lady Iriana, took an opportunity to look at the area that had been buried by the landslide and observe evacuation efforts.
He visited the evacuation center to extend aid before leaving.
The village head of Sampang, Purwanto, said President Jokowi had given some money to each family of the landslide victims especially those whose houses had been buried by the landslide.
He said the President also extended Rp20 million to him to be used for meeting the needs of evacuees in the next few days.
"A total of 82 families consisting of 253 people lived in Jemblung helmet and around 100 people had been buried in the landslide," he said.
According to initial data from the local Disaster Mitigation Agency service, a total of 32 bodies had been found but seven of them had not yet been identified.
A total of 649 evacuees are not being accommodated at 12 evacuation centers including some from other hamlets threatened by landslide.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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