Prioritizing Evacuation and Shelters

The evacuation and rescue of earthquake victims who are still buried under rubble has been prioritized in the handling of the Cianjur disaster.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

Aerial photo of the condition of Cijedil Village, Cugenang District, Cianjur Regency, West Java, which was buried under landslide material, Tuesday (22/11/2022). At least 17 houses and 30 villagers were lost in landslides. The evacuation process for searching for victims is done manually. Heavy equipment cannot reach the location due to the difficult terrain.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – It is suspected that 151 victims of the earthquake in Cianjur regency, West Java, are still buried under rubble. Additionally, tens of thousands of residents have sought refuge. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo instructed his staff to aid the victims, especially in evacuating and rescuing those still buried.

As of Tuesday (22/11/2022) at 5 p.m., the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) recorded that 268 people had died and 151 residents are still missing after the 5.6-magnitude earthquake rocked Cianjur on Monday (21/11). A total of 1,083 people were injured and 58,300 displaced. Moreover, 6,570 houses were heavily damaged, 2,071 houses were moderately damaged and 12,641 houses were slightly damaged.

Twelve subdistricts in Cianjur were affected by the earthquake, namely Cianjur, Karangtengah, Warungkondang, Cugenang, Cilaku, Cibeber, Sukaresmi, Cikalong Kulon, Bojongpicung, Sukaluyu, Gembrong and Pacet.

Based on monitoring in Kampung Selaerih, Genjot village, Cugenang, some residents’ houses were completely destroyed. Joint officers and volunteers have tried to evacuate victims who are buried under the rubble, while some victims were found dead.

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In Kampung Longkewang, Gasol village, Cugenang, dozens of refugees in evacuation shelters are still agitated. While occupying these emergency shelters, some refugees have yet to receive aid.

“I really need [aid]. There are many children. For adults, it’s fine but children need eucalyptus oil, diapers and proper clothes. Food is also important, as well as medicine and tents,” said Hadi (31), a survivor.

Residents in kampung Selaerih, Genjot village, also require logistics for survival at the evacuation shelters. “Aid is beginning to arrive but it is very limited. It is not enough for the residents, especially for our children. We already received health aid,” said Dedi (56), a local resident.

I really need [aid]. There are many children. For adults, it’s fine but children need eucalyptus oil, diapers and proper clothes. Food is also important, as well as medicine and tents.

Meanwhile, hundreds of injured victims are being treated in emergency tents at the Sayang Regional General Hospital and the Cimacan Hospital. A total of 460 victims were treated in emergency tents at Sayang Hospital, Cianjur, while 237 victims were treated at Cimacan Hospital.

The limited number of treatment rooms and emergency tents at Cimacan Hospital has forced the hospital to adopt a policy of only treating moderate to severe earthquake victims. In fact, some of the victims who were seriously injured and risked death were referred to hospitals in Bogor, Ciawi and Jakarta.

MUCHLIS JR - BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

President Joko Widodo visited an evacuation tent in Prawatasari Park, which is a temporary residence for residents affected by the earthquake, in Cianjur Regency, West Java Province, on Tuesday, November 22, 2022.

Victims who were slightly injured were treated at evacuation shelters and were handled by a team of officers from the Cimacan Hospital who came to the residents’ evacuation shelters.

Cimacan Hospital disaster field coordinator Rizky Utama said that his party lacked medical personnel to treat and transport victims using ambulances. Available health workers have been working since the evacuation process began. The large number of victims that need to be treated have left hospital personnel exhausted.

Until yesterday, four ambulances from Cimacan Hospital traveled back and forth on the Cipanas national road to Cianjur. They escorted earthquake victims around Pacet and Cugenang to Cimacan Hospital.

Road access blocked

After more than 24 hours following the earthquake, the road connecting Bogor regency to Cianjur on Jl. Cugenang was buried in a 300-meter-long landslide. As of Tuesday afternoon, the road is still not yet accessible. This has affected the flow of traffic, where people and goods cannot pass through the road.

Yesterday afternoon, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo visited the landslide site along with Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendi, BNPB head Suharyanto, Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) head Dwikorita Karnawati, Army chief of staff Gen. Dudung Abdurachman, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil and Cianjur Regent Herman Suherman.

“First and foremost, on behalf of myself and the government, I express my deepest condolences for the earthquake in Cianjur, West Java,” said the President.

The President instructed his staff to prioritize the evacuation and rescue of earthquake victims who were still buried under rubble. Several urgent steps also need to be taken, including reopening access to the areas affected by landslides and handling refugees.

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The government will also help rebuild damaged houses. Residents whose houses were heavily damaged will be provided with Rp 50 million in assistance. Residents whose houses were moderate or slightly damaged will be provided with Rp 25 million and Rp 10 million respectively.

The reconstruction of houses affected by the earthquake will later be required to adhere to anti-seismic building standards from the Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Ministry. “[This is] because the BMKG said earlier that earthquakes occur every 20 years here, so the [re]building of houses should be earthquake proof,” said the President.

In order to speed up the handling of the disaster, the BNPB has deployed a helicopter and prepared Rp 1.5 billion in funds and Rp 500 million in logical assistance. “For isolated villages, besides reopening road access, a helicopter has also been prepared for logistics distribution,” said Suharyanto.

RIVALDO ARNOLD BELEKUBUN

Residents of RT04 in Cibeureum Village, Cugenang, Cianjur, West Java in evacuation tents, after the earthquake in Cianjur, West Java, Monday (21/11/2022).

Potential follow-up disasters

The BMKG has urged Cianjur residents to remain cautious of the potential follow-up disasters in the form of landslides and flash floods. People living near rivers, hills or valleys need to be aware of the threat these hydrometeorological disasters pose.

Dwikorita said that it is very likely the slopes of Cianjur’s hills have become fragile following the earthquake. This can be exacerbated by the high intensity of rain, which can potentially inundate the region.

Residents have also been advised to avoid buildings that are cracked or damaged by the earthquake, in fear that the structures cannot support themselves and will collapse if there are aftershocks. (CHE/RTG/AIK/IKI/GIO/CAS/Z02/Z03).

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.