BNPB Sends Helicopters to Disaster-stricken East Nusa Tenggara
Translator
Editor
7 April 2021 23:50 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has mobilized six of itssent six helicopters to multiple locations of the disaster-stricken in the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province. Landslide and flash floods have devastated 12 regencies and cities.
The six choppers include MI-8 helicopters - capable of carrying eight tons of payload - and the Kamov 32 A helicopter that were both repositioned from West Kalimantan and Riau. Other types mobilized to the location are passenger helicopters from the EC-115, AW 199, Bell 412EP, AS-365.
“As ordered by the BNPB Chief, the helicopters will distribute logistics and equipment to isolated locations after the flash floods and landslides cut the access to the areas. Sea crossing is also impossible to be done due to the high-tides,” said the BNPB spokesperson Raditya Jati in a written statement on April 7. The choppers will also be used to rescue survivors.
The Indonesian government’s mitigation following the flash flood and landslides in NTT is currently hampered by multiple issues, mainly the ruined access roads and extreme weather.
The BNPB reported that areas that are totally inaccessible are Regencies of Malaka, East Flores, and Lembata. Air transport has become the only viable option to continue the mitigation effort.
Read: East Nusa Tenggara Floods Update; 124 People Pronounced Dead
DEWI NURITA
