Uneven Aid Distribution

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Earthquake victims are being treated at the Sayang Hospital, Cianjur, Cianjur Regency, West Java, Monday (21/11/2022).

Efforts to search for victims were made amid aftershocks that have the potential to cause landslides or further damage to buildings. Rain was also forecasted until Friday.

CIANJUR, KOMPAS – While the number of Cianjur earthquake victims continues to increase, logistical and medical aid have not yet been evenly distributed. Efforts to search for survivors continue amid the aftershocks.

As of Wednesday (23/11/2022) afternoon, 61,908 people had been evacuated, whereas the figure stood at around 58,300 people the previous day.

There are 14 main evacuation posts spread across a number of areas in Cianjur regency, West Java. Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto said aid had been distributed to these 14 locations. These evacuation posts are equipped with tents, soup kitchens and sanitation facilities.

Outside of these 14 evacuation sites, there were shelters built by earthquake survivors, such as the evacuation camp founded by residents of kampung Cibeureum neighborhood unit (RT) 002 community unit (RW) 001 in Cibereum village, Cugenang.

These evacuation camps, situated in open areas near the village, have not received food or drink from the government.

Around 35 families or hundreds of displaced residents can be found there. These evacuation camps, situated in open areas near the village, have not received food or drink from the government.

One of the displaced residents, Aisyah (35), admitted that she only received aid from a shop owner who distributed food and drinks.

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Survivors at the evacuation post in kampung Tunggilis, RT 004 RW 001, Ciuputri village, Pacet, still need clean water. Because of the 5.6-magnitude earthquake on Monday (21/11), the village no longer has a source of clean water.

Thus far, earthquake victims have received aid in the form of emergency tents set up by the Social Affairs Ministry as well as food provided by volunteers.

DOKUMENTASI BNPB

One of the schools in Cianjur which was damaged by the earthquake on Monday (11/21/2022).

“We haven’t received any clean water since we evacuated,” said Kholis (47), an evacuee there.

Cianjur Regent Herman Suherman said that evacuees who have not yet received logistical aid were urged to immediately report to their respective subdistricts, so that aid can be distributed to the right areas.

Medical treatment

Medical treatment for evacuees has not been maximized due to a lack of health workers. The medical team from the Cimacan Hospital treating victims at evacuation posts is understaffed. As a result, medical services have not reached thousands of earthquake survivors across Cugenang and Pacet districts. However, volunteers have been quite helpful in distributing logistics and health aid.

The medical teams are treating residents with minor injuries directly at evacuation posts so they do not have to go to the hospital.

Yesterday, the Cimacan Hospital began dispatching medical teams to residents’ shelters. The medical teams are treating residents with minor injuries directly at evacuation posts so they do not have to go to the hospital.

Residents with broken bones and major lacerations will be treated at the hospital. Meanwhile, residents with serious injuries who are at risk of death will be referred to hospitals in Bogor and Ciawi.

“At evacuation posts, officers will carry out screening and assessments to identify the type of injuries of the victims. Then, we will decide who needs immediate treatment and who needs to be referred to a hospital,” said Cimacan Hospital director Juliana Aritonang.

Health workers are desperately needed at evacuation posts. There are still many injured survivors who have not yet received medical treatment and rely on care from fellow survivors.

KOMPAS

A police officer and his partner collect aid for the victims of the Cianjur earthquake.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, during his visit to Cimacan Hospital, said that several health workers were dispatched to assist at the hospital and in the field, especially orthopedic and surgical specialists.

“More than 15 teams were sent to evacuation posts. We have identified more than 2,300 residents with minor injuries that can be treated at evacuation posts. While those who were seriously injured will be referred to hospitals,” he said.

The BNPB recorded an increase of injured survivors, bringing the figure to 2,043 people. The previous day, there were 1,083 injured.

Search for victims

The death toll rose to 271 people two days after the earthquake. Suharyanto stated that the number of fatalities are likely to increase because there are still deaths that have yet to be reported. Some of the victims have been buried by their families but not yet reported to the Puskesmas (community health center) or the hospital.

Efforts to search for victims continue amid aftershocks that can potentially cause landslides or more severe damage to buildings. It is recorded that 40 victims are still missing, down from the previous 151 victims.

The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and Indonesian Military (TNI) deployed more heavy equipment and sniffer dogs to speed up the search for disaster victims at landslide points.

Bandung Search and Rescue (SAR) office head Jumaril, who is also the SAR mission coordinator in the CIanjur earthquake, said the SAR operation was supported by 796 personnel and conducted in two searches. The first search was carried out by the potential SAR team and the second by the Basarnas team.

The SAR team is made up of 12 Search and Rescue Units (SRU) that were dispatched to 12 subdistricts, which includes Cianjur, Karangtengah, Warungkondang, Gekbrong, Cugenang and Cibeber district. Cilaku, Bojongpicung, Sukaresmi, Cikalongkulon, Saluyu and Pacet districts were also included.

The Basarnas team was divided into four search sectors, namely RT 002 Cugenang, kampung Cina in Nagrak village, kampung Salakawung in Sarampad village and Warung Sate Shinta.

Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) Dwikorita Karnawati stated that there were up to 171 aftershocks in Cianjur over the last three days. These low-scale and fairly mild earthquakes are expected to continue to occur in the next four to seven days.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Earthquake victims are being treated at the Sayang Hospital, Cianjur, Cianjur Regency, West Java, Monday (21/11/2022).

“Even though these are low-scale earthquakes, the public must remain vigilant because there is a trend of increasing shallowness from the point of the earthquake. The last aftershock was only a magnitude of 3, but it could still be felt. This is because there was only a 5-kilometer distance between the earth’s surface and the point of the earthquake, which is very close to the position of the people,” he said.

BMKG deputy for geophysics Suko Prayitno Adi added that there were three low-scale earthquakes that were not felt between 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. yesterday. It was also forecasted to rain until Friday (25/11).

Muhammad Wafid from the Geological Agency of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said two landslides have caused road access blockage, which was caused by continuous rain following the earthquake.

“There will continue to be potential for landslides, especially when it’s raining. There are still remaining mounds at the top which can collapse when triggered by shocks or rain,” he said. (CHE/RTG/IKI/GIO/Z14/Z02/Z03/Z11)

(This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia)