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BNPB warns of potential disaster in Ternate following fatal flash flood
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Rescuers operate heavy equipment during the search for flash flood victims in Rua village, Ternate City, North Maluku, on Aug. 25, 2024. (Antara Foto/Andri Saputra)
T
he National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has asked residents of Ternate Island in North Maluku to remain vigilant over the next several days as heavy rain is still expected to occur. The warning comes following a flash flood early on Sunday morning that swept away nearly an entire sub-district, leaving 16 people dead and three others missing as of Monday afternoon.
“We urge people to remain on alert and follow directions from authorities regarding potential subsequent floods,” agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement, adding that the relevant institutions were joining forces with local communities to recover the bodies of the dead, as well as to look for those who were still missing.
The calamity occurred at approximately 4 a.m. on Sunday, following two days of relentless rain, and cut access to Rua sub-district, the most hard-hit area, burying dozens of dwellings and public facilities under mud. Officials noted at least 25 houses and one mushola (prayer room) were badly damaged.
Three water pumps connected to hundreds of meters of pipelines have been deployed so far to remove mud from areas where victims are suspected of being buried. The equipment was chosen as a means of recovery as it would give victims who are still alive a better chance of survival compared with using excavators, the BNPB explained.
At least 400 joint personnel from the BNPB, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police were involved in the evacuation processes, Abdul added.
As of Monday morning, official data showed that 22 victims had been evacuated or recovered from the site, with 13 dead and nine injured. All the fatalities have been identified, the youngest of whom are reported to be two 5-year-old boys and the oldest being a man in his 50s.
As the rescue process continued through Monday evening, three additional victims were recovered. Meanwhile, three victims, thought to be a family remain missing, they have been identified as Awana Alimudin, 64, Minanti Musa, 39, and Ajana Roman, 5, as reported by Antara.
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