Hundreds of People Affected by Landslide Flee Serasan

A total of 414 local residents affected by a landslide have left Serasan Island, Natuna. The landslide has so far claimed 46 lives, while nine people remain missing.

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

Hundreds of survivors of the landslide disaster line up to board the Bukit Raya Motor Boat at the Pier of the National Border Crossing Post on Serasan Island, Natuna, Riau Islands, Sunday (12/3/2023). Most of the disaster victims wanted to flee to Natuna Besar Island and Bintan Island.

NATUNA, KOMPAS — Hundreds of people have left Serasan Island, Natuna regency, the Riau Islands, following a landslide, boarding the KM Bukit Raya motorboat in the early hours of Monday (13/3/2023). The island residents were heading to seek temporary refuge at their relatives’ homes outside Serasan.

On Sunday evening (12/3), a number of evacuees packed the pier at the border checkpoint on Serasan Island. Most of the crowd were women, young children and elderly people.

Although they would be away from Serasan Island for quite some time, the evacuees did not have much luggage. Most of the women only carried two bags containing clothes, while the children were simply holding their toys.

Also read:

> Landslides in Serasan Island Kill Dozens

One of the evacuees was Matsumi, 54. Along with her husband and two children, she was heading to stay with relatives in Tanjung Pinang city on Bintan Island, the Riau Islands.

“Our house was destroyed by the landslide. We want to take refuge in Tanjung Pinang until we get housing relocation aid from the government,” she said.

Matsumi’s house is located in Pangkalan village, the area most affected by the landslide on Serasan Island. Based on the latest data as of 12 March 2023, the bodies of 46 victims have been recovered while 9 people are still missing.

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

A mother brought her two children to flee on the Bukit Raya Motorboat at the National Border Crossing Post Pier on Serasan Island, Natuna, Riau Islands, Sunday (12/3/2023).

Asmawati, 44, another passenger onboard KM Bukit Raya, said she was taking her two children and seeking refuge at the house of a family member on Natuna Besar Island. They came from Jermalik village, which was still isolated, as the landslide in Pangkalan village had cut off road access to her village.

“Our house was not hit by the landslide, but the electricity in our village is not on yet and none of the stalls are open yet, either. We plan to evacuate until everything returns to normal,” she said.

The Disaster Response Command Post and Media Centre of the Ansor Youth Movement’s (GP’s) regional executive board for Natuna regency recorded that 414 people affected by the landslide had left Serasan Island by KM Bukit Raya.

Of these 414 evacuees, 298 had gone to Natuna, 8 people to Midai Port, 38 to Tarempa Port and 70 to Kijang Port.

We can only assist them by offering free tickets for [KM] Bukit Raya. Hopefully our fellow citizens in [Natuna’s capital] Ranai can also help them.

Coordinator of the Disaster Response and Media Center of the GP Ansor Natuna regency executive board, A.E. Hermawan, said the government had not yet adopted a policy thus far on relocating the residents of Serasan Island.

“The 414 people left on their own initiative. They have family members in Natuna, Midai, Tarempa and Kijang,” he pointed out.

Raja Darmika, chief executive of the Natuna Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), said people had their own reasons for leaving Serasan Island.

“We can only assist them by offering free tickets for [KM] Bukit Raya. Hopefully our fellow citizens in [Natuna’s capital] Ranai can also help them,” he said.

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

A police member of the Natuna Disaster Response Task Force crosses the site of the landslide disaster in Pangkalan Village, Serasan Island, Natuna, Riau Islands, Saturday (11/3/2023).

Emergency response

The Natuna regency administration has extended the landslide disaster emergency response for Serasan Island by three days until 15 March 2023 in order to maximize the search effort for victims. Previously, the emergency response had been set for seven days as of 7 March.

“Over these three days, we will evaluate the percentage for the chance of finding victims. We hope this process will progress smoothly and the missing victims can be found,” Natuna Regent Wan Siswandi stated in a press release on Sunday (12/3).

Also read:

> Weather Hampers Evacuation of Victims

Wan Siswandi also emphasized the importance of verifying data on the dead victims and affected people in handling post-disaster efforts.

“It’s [about] how validation can be done accurately so they can secure their rights as victims,” he said.

He added that 147 houses, one mosque and one school would be relocated outside the “red” hazard zone. At present, the Public Works and Housing Ministry was mapping out its construction plan.

This article was translated byAris Prawira.