Bandung city’s search and rescue (SAR) service has put one team on standby to evacuate victims of the earthquake in Cianjur district, West Java, more than one month after the disaster.

Head of the Bandung SAR Service, Jumaril, said that the team consists of 5 to 10 people. As of Friday, there were 5 missing persons who were still to be located. They were suspected to have been buried in landslides caused by the earthquake.

“Currently, we are still on standby to anticipate, then monitor and evacuate the new findings,” Jumaril informed in Bandung on Friday.

According to him, following the earthquake, the SAR team deployed 176 personnel in the area, in addition to teams from the National Police, Indonesia Defence Forces (TNI), Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), and volunteers. However, a month on, the SAR team personnel and search support equipment have been reduced.

“Because the local government and related agencies have moved on to a transitional period, which will be continued into rehabilitation,” he explained.

He said that the search and rescue operation for the Cianjur earthquake victims was the longest operation in 2022 since, during the 30-day emergency response period, his personnel remained on site.

On November 21, 2022, an earthquake measuring 5.6 magnitude and located at a depth of 10 kilometers, had rattled Cianjur district, West Java, leaving hundreds dead and injured.

On December 20, the death toll from the quake reached 635 after a SAR team found three bodies buried under landslide materials.

The earthquake caused serious damage to 25,186 houses, moderate damage to 12,496 houses, and minor damage to 20,367 houses.

In addition, according to government data, at least 525 school buildings were severely damaged in the quake, along with 269 houses of worship, 14 healthcare facilities, and 17 office buildings.

Source: Antara News