Govt Stops Rescue Efforts for Banjarnegara Landslide Victims
21 December 2014 22:16 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government on Sunday, December 21, 2014, officially halted the search efforts for the victims of a deadly landslide that hit Jemblung hamlet, Sampang village, Karangkobar, Banjarnegara, Central Java.
In total, 93 bodies have been found.
"This afternoon, the search efforts officially came to an end,” said Banjarnegara Deputy Regent Hadi Supeno on Sunday.
The halting of the search efforts was marked by a ceremony held at the intersection of Dukuh Ngaliyan village and Sampang village located 100 meters from the disaster site.
It was attended by members of the he National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), members of the Indonesian Army (TNI), members of the Indonesian Police, volunteers, and residents.
After the ceremony, the volunteers bade farewell to the residents.
Afterwards, Hadi said that the mitigation effort of the disaster was continued to the Emergency Response Phase II that begins on Monday, 22 December 2014 until 4 January 2015. At this phase, he added, the government would prioritize handling of the displaced families so that they can stay in temporary shelters in the residents’ houses.
Hadi also said that it would not be good for the residents to stay in evacuation centers for too long because what they need is more than just sleeping and eating.
ARIS ANDRIANTO