JAKARTA: The death toll in Indonesia’s natural disaster has risen to 21 after rescue workers recovered more bodies from the debris of a massive landslide on remote Natuna island. The National Disaster Response Agency said in a statement that the search operation was being conducted in Genting and Pangkalan villages on a remote island in the Natuna region of the South China Sea. There, 30 houses were buried under the debris in the landslide that occurred on Monday following torrential rains.
According to the statement, the authorities have deployed more than 200 rescuers from the Search and Rescue Agency, the police, and the army to search for the 33 people who are still missing. They are feared trapped in houses buried under the debris of the landslide. Suharyanto, the head of the National Disaster Response Agency, said on Thursday that eight people were pulled from the rubble alive, three of whom remained in critical condition. The rescue operation is being affected due to heavy rain at the spot.
“We are doing our best to trace the missing people,” Suhriyanto said.” He told that the dog squad is also being used. Two helicopters and several ships arrived on Wednesday carrying rescue teams, medical teams, and relief supplies including tents, blankets, and food from Jakarta and surrounding islands. Suharyanto said Monday’s landslide left about 1,300 people homeless, who have taken shelter in temporary shelters.
