West Sumatra Flash Flood: Basarnas Conduct Searches for 17 Missing Victims
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13 May 2024 09:24 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Padang Search and Rescue Office or Basarnas was still searching yesterday for 17 victims of flash floods in West Sumatra. This was conveyed by the Head of the Basarnas Office, Abdul Malik, in his official statement on Sunday evening, May 12, 2024.
"We are still looking for 17 flash flood victims in Agam and Tanah Datar districts," he said.
The search for victims would continue by combing the rivers around the flash flood area, Abdul Malik said. Currently, 37 people have been found and declared dead.
Abdul Malik detailed that 19 of the 37 victims were residents of Agam Regency, 9 people were from Tanah Datar, 7 victims were from Padang Pariaman and 2 were residents of Padang Panjang City. "35 people have been identified and the other 2 are still in process," he said.
Meanwhile, Tanah Datar Regent Eka Putra declared an emergency disaster response for 14 days starting Sunday, May 12, 2024. "We have declared an emergency response in Tanah Datar and will continue to carry out searches (for victims)," he said. Eka explained that the Tanah Datar Regional Government also set up aid and shelter tents around the flood points.
He also explained that the intensity of rain in Tanah Datar Regency is still high. "We continue to urge the public to remain careful. We also continue to look for victims who have not been found," he said.
The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of West Sumatra Province stated that Bukik Batabuah Village, Agam Regency was affected worst by cold lava flooding. "The overflow of water from the upstream of Mount Marapi brought (solid) materials and hit directly the residential areas in Bukik Batabuah Village,” said Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division of BPBD West Sumatra, Fajar Sukma, in Agam Regency, Sunday.
Apart from Bukik Batabuah, the flash flood also badly affected four villages in Tanah Datar Regency. However, BPBD has not been able to report in detail the form of damage and the exact number of victims who died or went missing.
Meanwhile, in Padang Panjang City, BPBD reported that the causeway from Padang City to Bukittinggi City, precisely at Lembah Anai Waterfall, was the worst location affected by the flood where part of the road was blocked.
ANTARA
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