Weather and Unstable Earth Hamper Search for Victims

KOMPAS

The search for victims of the Cianjur earthquake is still ongoing.

CIANJUR, KOMPAS — Four days after the earthquake in Cianjur, West Java, 24 victims have not yet been found. Search attempts were hampered by the rain and unstable earth conditions. Aftershocks were also still felt.

As many as 17 bodies were discovered in the search on Friday (25/11/2022). Ten were found in Shinta Satay House, Cipanas district.

There were at least three main search locations. Apart from Shinta Satay House, rescue efforts were conducted in neighborhood unit (RT) 003, community unit (RW) 001 and Cicadas hamlet, Cijedil village, Cugenang district.

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Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto said the search operation would keep going until the discovery of those recorded missing.

“Until the last person, there’s no decline in spirit, power, facilities and infrastructure as ensuring people’s safety is upholding the supreme law,” he said.

So far, aftershocks have continued to occur, although in smaller magnitudes.

Manager of the Cianjur Earthquake Field SAR Operation at the National Search and Rescue Agency, Supriono, said aftershocks and rain were the biggest challenges in the rescue activity. So far, aftershocks have continued to occur, although in smaller magnitudes.

Rain is prone to induce the potential for landslides because of the unstable earth condition. The search on Friday was halted at 3 p.m. as rain was beginning to fall.

“The [unstable] earth condition forces the search to be manually carried out. It’s dangerous to make use of heavy-duty equipment,” said Supriono.

Head of the Bandung SAR Office concurrent SAR mission coordinator Jumaril said at least 1,408 people from 192 institutions and organizations joined the search for victims.

Evacuation handling

According to BNPB data, the evacuation of residents is scattered over 110 locations with varying numbers of evacuees. A total of around 60,000 residents have been evacuated.

KOMPAS

The evacuation of victims of the Cianjur earthquake was constrained by the lack of heavy equipment.

“The evacuation covers 15 districts. It requires a strategy and extra power for the distribution of logistic supplies,” said Suharyanto.

Besides the logistic distribution, the psychological handling of victims, especially children and women, is being carried on. The Cianjur regency administration has opened psychological service stations for disaster victims. However, not all areas have benefited from the service.

“Now, psychological services are provided for disaster victims in cooperation with the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry. We have opened stations to offer psychological assistance to the victims in order to raise their spirits. But several areas are not yet accessed,” said Cianjur regency secretary Cecep S Alamsyah.

One of the regions beyond psychological services is Nagrog hamlet, Gasol village, Cugenang district, Cianjur. Until yesterday, hundreds of residents were facing a shortage of medicines and logistic supplies.

There’s no bath soap either,” said Erni, 29, a mother of two staying in a tarpaulin tent in RW 001, Nagrog.

“We have got food and drinks, but there’s no communal kitchen yet so that children eat whatever is available. At night, we use blankets we have taken from the rubble. There’s no bath soap either,” said Erni, 29, a mother of two staying in a tarpaulin tent in RW 001, Nagrog.

For Erni, psychology is not considered because the children’s health is at risk. Furthermore, rain has been falling over the last few days and the air is cold at night.

In Panyaweuyan Ciherang village, Pacet district, volunteers from Dompet Dhuafa (philanthropist organization) help handle the psychological impact of the disaster. One of the activities for recovery from the trauma is sharing stories about what was experienced by victims amid the trembles.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

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

“By sharing such stories, residents indirectly release their negative energy that may be withheld. The bitter experience must be unleashed so as to reduce their burden despite their sadness while recounting the experience,” said Boy, one of the volunteers.

General chairman of the Central Board of the Indonesian Medical Association (PB IDI), Adib Khumaidi, said health problems would frequently arise several days after a disaster. This condition should be anticipated by ascertaining that the needs of disaster victims are fulfilled, ranging from sanitation to clean water.

“Health complaints are not noticed yet but within a week there may be increasing cases such as diarrhea and respiratory illnesses,” he added. (CHE/RTG/GIO/Z08/Z14)

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira)