PIKIRAN RAKYAT - The landslide disaster occurred in a people's mining area in East Tulabolo Village, East Suwawa District, Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province, on Sunday, July 7, 2024. Initial data stated that the number of victims was eight people, consisting of two people who died, two people were found safe, and four people are still being searched.

"Provisional data, the two people who died were a 40-year-old mother and her four-year-old child. While his father is still searching. They are residents of East Suwawa," said the Commander of the Alpa Basarnas Gorontalo Team, Salama.

Two victims who were declared safe in the disaster were injured, one of whom was seriously injured due to broken bones. Initial information received stated that the landslide event occurred on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at midnight, or approximately 23.45 WITA. At that time, some of the victims were resting and fast asleep in several camps or stalls at the mine site.

"For the time being, there have been several victims who have been successfully evacuated from the mine site to the main post, before being taken to the hospital," said Salama.

The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) deployed the full strength of a joint team of SAR officers to search for 17 gold mine workers who were still missing in a landslide in East Suwawa, Bone Bolango, Gorontalo. Director of Operations of Basarnas Brigadier General TNI Edy Prakoso said that 17 miners were part of a total of 33 victims of landslides in the people's gold mining area in East Suwawa.

The identities of the 17 people have been obtained by joint SAR officers. The majority of them are men and one woman and currently the whereabouts of the victims are still missing in search since yesterday night, Sunday, July 7, 2024.

Edy Prakoso confirmed that on the second day of the SAR operation, the number of joint officers deployed to the East Suwawa gold mine site totaled 206 people, along with two units of heavy equipment, one helicopter unit, and complete SAR equipment.

The team each consisted of 25 personnel from the Gorontalo SAR Office. The rest are assistance personnel from the Gorontalo Regional Police, Korem Battalion 173, Gorontalo Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Nature Lovers Group, and so on.

Based on the latest report from the Main SAR Post on Monday, July 8, 2024, afternoon, the number of victims has increased from eight to 11 people who have died. Eight of them have been evacuated to Bhayangkara Gorontalo Hospital, then some are already at the funeral home, and 3 are still at the landslide site.

Then as many as five people survived in a state of minor and severe injuries such as fractures in the legs and spine, they have been rushed to a number of nearby hospitals for further medical treatment.

Residents and family members also assisted joint SAR officers to carry out the evacuation process of victims who were found from the landslide site.

Although access to the landslide site is quite difficult, which is more than 20 kilometers from the main road, Edy ensured that the joint SAR personnel led by the Head of the Gorontalo SAR Office would be on maximum duty in the hope that all victims could be found at least in the next seven days.

SAR officers and residents evacuate the bodies of landslide victims in Tulabolo Village, East Suwawa, Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo. Antara/Adiwinata Solihin

A total of 230 joint personnel from various agencies were deployed to search for landslide victims in the mining area of East Tulabolo Village, East Suwawa District, Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province.

Head of the Gorontalo Search and Rescue Office Hariyanto said that the personnel dispatched consisted of elements of the army, police, Basarnas, BPBD, and PMI (Indonesian Red Cross) of Bone Bolango Regency, as well as RAPI Gorontalo.

"We divide them into several squads that will carry out SAR operations at the posts that we have determined," he said, Monday, July 8, 2024.

Gorontalo Hariyanto said, that to facilitate the search and evacuation process, several personnel were also placed at some points that other personnel passed through when evacuating the victims. Considering that all connecting bridges in the area are confirmed to have been broken due to flash floods.

The Gorontalo Police have also brought in tracking dogs or K9, to facilitate the search process for victims who are suspected to be strongly buried by landslide materials. The main obstacle faced was that the personnel had to walk 23.7 kilometers from the main SAR Post to the mine site, with terrain conditions that were quite difficult to pass.

Not to mention, most areas in East Suwawa District are still raining with moderate intensity. So that it is difficult for personnel to carry out SAR operations.

"We have dispatched all the personnel involved. We hope and pray that this humanitarian operation can run safely and smoothly," said Gorontalo Hariyanto.

The process of evacuating the bodies of landslide victims in Tulabolo Village, East Suwawa, Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo. Antara Foto/Adiwinata Solihin.

The number of victims who were found dead in a landslide disaster in the people's mining area of East Tulabolo Village, East Suwawa Bone Bolango District, Gorontalo Province has increased to 12 people.

Head of the Gorontalo Search and Rescue Office, Hariyanto said that the latest data that has been recorded at the SAR Post, the total number of victims is 104 people with details of 12 dead, 44 survivors, and 48 people still being searched.

"The deceased victims have been evacuated to Bhayangkara Hospital, and those who survived but were injured were rushed to Aloei Saboe Hospital and Toto Kabila Hospital to receive medical treatment," he said, Monday, July 8, 2024.

At this time, the search process at the mine site has been temporarily stopped and will resume on Tuesday 9 July 2024 morning. Considering that the weather is currently raining, as well as terrain conditions that are quite difficult to pass.

So far, the process of searching for victims to evacuate is running smoothly. However, weather factors and terrain conditions are the main obstacles faced by the joint SAR team.

"All victims consist of residents of Bone Bolango Gorontalo, Bolaang Mongondow North Sulawesi, and Buol Regency Central Sulawesi, and there is one victim whose identity is not yet known," said Hariyanto.

Until now, personnel at the Tulabolo SAR Post have been trying to collect data and identities of the victims, both collected from personnel at the mine site, survivors, and victims' families.

Meanwhile, at the location of the SAR Post, there are still many residents who gather and wait for information regarding the whereabouts of their families who are suspected of being victims in the landslide incident in the people's mining area.

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto stated that his party is ready to repair damage to the people's gold mining area hit by landslides in East Tulabolo Village, East Suwawa, Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo, as long as it is a government asset.

"The mine, if it is a regional asset or a district asset and submitted to BNPB, we will help repair it," he said.

According to Suharyanto, the ownership status of the mining area must be ascertained first as an important condition for repair, rehabilitation, or reconstruction. Likewise, in settlements affected by landslides, it will be verified before being assisted in repairs.

"Our task is rehabilitation-reconstruction. If closing the mine is not our authority, BNPB does not have the authority," he said.

However, apart from that, Suharyanto ensured that BNPB and other involved elements are currently still focused on searching, evacuating, and rescuing miners and residents who were victims of the landslide because the safety of residents is a priority.

Description: The Gorontalo landslide disaster has claimed 12 lives, with 104 people affected, and search efforts are ongoing despite difficult weather and terrain conditions. The joint SAR team, consisting of 230 personnel, is dedicated to rescuing the remaining victims, while the BNPB is ready to repair the mining area if it is a government asset.*** (Politeknik Negeri Bandung/Sintia Yuliana)