Rescue team ends search for bodies at Pacet hot springs<\/p>\n
Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya<\/p>\n
After combing the area around the Pacet hot springs for one week,
\nthe rescue team officially ended its search for more bodies on
\nTuesday, with the police insisting that only 26 people were
\nkilled in the mudslide triggered by days of heavy rain.<\/p>\n
Rescue teams and hospital staff said earlier that the mudslide
\nthat hit the resort situated on a mountain slope in Pacet,
\nMojokerto, East Java, had claimed more than 30 lives.<\/p>\n
Relatives of the casualties will file a lawsuit against state
\nforestry company PT Perhutani, which manages the forest above the
\nresort.<\/p>\n
Most of those killed were women and children enjoying post-
\nfasting Idul Fitri festivities. Environmentalists called the
\ncalamity a manmade disaster due to logging in the Perhutani
\nforest.<\/p>\n
Mojokerto Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sobri Effendi said that
\nalthough the search had ended, volunteers would monitor the area.<\/p>\n
Sobri said his office had received a report that 11 people
\nwere still unaccounted for.<\/p>\n
Sobri added that his office had questioned 24 witnesses,
\nincluding residents, resort staff and officials from the state
\nforestry company.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, East Java Governor Imam Utomo withdrew his order to
\npermanently close down the resort, saying it would be relocated
\nto a nearby location.<\/p>\n
\"I understand the objection of Pacet residents who rely on the
\nresort. We are considering other locations,\" Imam said here on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Earlier, a delegation of 400 people, mostly residents of
\nPacet, met with Mojokerto Regent Achmady, demanding that the
\nlocal administration canceled its plan to close down the resort.<\/p>\n
Director of East Java's chapter of the Indonesian Forum for
\nthe Environment (Walhi) Syarifuddin Ngulma hailed the decision of
\nthe governor to relocate the resort.<\/p>\n
He said closing the resort would only create more victims,
\nnamely people who rely on the resort for a livelihood.<\/p>\n
Syarifuddin said that negligence on the part of Perhutani had
\ncaused the tragedy, and as such his organization planned to file
\na class action suit against Perhutani.<\/p>\n
Relatives of those killed in the mudslide say they will file
\nsuit against Perhutani for failing to anticipate the calamity.<\/p>\n
Supriyo, whose son Triadi Danar Setiawan was killed in the
\nmudslide, said he would pair up with non-governmental
\norganizations to file suit.<\/p>\n
\"Perhutani did not take precautionary measures despite an
\nearlier landslide on Dec. 4. The state firm did not avert the
\ntragedy by closing the resort,\" Supriyo said after placing
\nflowers at the site on Tuesday in honor of his son.<\/p>\n
He also regretted the lack of action by the state forest
\ncompany during the search for casualties. Locals, mass
\norganizations, the Indonesian Military and the National Police
\nconducted the search and assisted those trapped after the
\nmudslide.<\/p>\n
\"I have not received any information on the cause and
\nchronology of the tragedy,\" he was quoted as saying by detik.com.<\/p>\n
Supriyo said he did not know what sort of condition his son
\nwas in when the rescue team found him.<\/p>\n
He disclosed that he had received Rp 2.5 million in
\ncompensation from the East Java administration, Rp 2 million from
\nthe Mojokerto regency administration and Rp 2.5 million from
\nPT Perhutani.<\/p>\n
Supriyo said he hoped the local administration would build a
\nmonument to remind the people of the tragedy and the importance
\nof conserving the forest.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rescue-team-ends-search-for-bodies-at-pacet-hot-springs-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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