JAKARTA – The death toll from the West Bandung landslide in West Java has risen to 16, with nine victims successfully identified so far.
West Java Police Public Relations Chief Hendra Rochmawan said as of 12 noon local time today, four additional bodies had been recovered, bringing the total number of bodies evacuated to the Disaster Victim Identification coordination post to 16.
“Of the total recovered, nine have been identified and handed over to their families, yesterday,” he said, as reported by ANTARA News Agency, on Sunday.
The landslide which was triggered by heavy rainfalls struck Pasirlangu village at around 2.30 am Saturday and buried several residential areas.
Vice President Gibran Rakabuming visited the landslide site on Sunday morning accompanied by National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Chief Suharyanto and National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Head Mohammad Syafii.
Suharyanto in a statement said based on preliminary data, a total of 232 evacuees were currently taking shelters.
Authorities have prepared three schemes for displaced residents, namely temporary shelters, Housing Waiting Funds (DTH), and relocation to safer areas, he said.
“Communities not directly affected but whose locations remain prone to hazards will also be followed up. Even if they are not currently impacted by the landslide, they will still have to be relocated,” he said.
Mohammad Syafii said more than 250 personnel equipped with specialised equipment have been deployed to reinforce the search and rescue (SAR) operation.
— BERNAMA
