Crop failure awaits C. Java disaster victims
Slamet Susanto and Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Purworejo, Central Java
The search for a missing woman in a landslide that hit the Purworejo village of Plipir in Central Java has been abandoned, while thousands of others are facing a serious plight due to a mudslide that swept through their rice fields.
A mudslide that followed heavy rains has buried hundreds of hectares of rice fields in Plipir and two neighboring villages, making it impossible for the farmers to harvest.
"Should we fail to harvest the crops, we cannot estimate how much the government will have to spend on humanitarian assistance for the people because there are hundreds of hectares of rice field affected," Tri Gunadi, an official with the provincial administration, said on Sunday,
The office, along with the local provincial agriculture office, are still seeking a solution to help the farmers, Tri added.
The central government has delivered two tons of rice, 20 boxes of canned fish, blankets and instant noodles to the villagers, in addition to 300 packages of staple foods provided by the local administration.
"People can ask for humanitarian assistance at the local logistics agency and the social affairs agency," Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah said over the weekend.
At least 14 people were killed and a woman remained missing after the landslide hit Plipir on Friday.
On Saturday, the local search and rescue team discovered the body of Paiman, 24.
The missing woman is identified as Sarinah, 60.
According to Abdul Muntholip, the village head, the rescue team would not continue the search for Sarinah on Monday and she is presumed dead.
But Abdul allowed local people to continue the effort voluntarily.
The other 13 fatalities were Sukardi, 65, and his wife Sarinah, 60; Tukino, 39, his wife Ruskayaiti, 32, and their two children Edi Rahmatdani, 11, and Ahmat Fifai, 3; Paiman, 24, his wife Mursidah, 24, who was nine-months pregnant, and their daughter Nina Aryanti, 6.
Tito's wife Siti Lestarini, 25, and their two children Fauziyah Verawati and Ibnu Saefudin, 6. were also killed along with Sukardi's son-in-law, Sagiman, who was staying overnight with them.
The natural disaster also hit the neighboring regencies of Kulonprgo and Bantul, both in Yogyakarta, forcing dozens of families to temporarily seek shelter in neighboring areas.
The landslide also affected hundreds of houses in Bagelan subdistrict. The mud caused slippery roads, endangering motorists.
Meanwhile in Trenggalek, East Java, a local rescue team continue searching for victims after a landslide that hit Temon village recently.
According to Trenggalek Police precinct chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Suyono, the team would require around four days to evacuate victims as well as a few head of cattle that perished when the disaster took place on Friday.
The police had earlier identified a victim named Muwadi, 70, but expressed regret for being unable to remove the body of the victim immediately, because of the difficult terrain.
"We need more time to evacuate the body from the site. It would take us perhaps about four or five days because the place is difficult to reach," Suyono said.
The landslide sunk 15 houses and seriously damaged six buildings there. Hundreds of head of cattle also perished, including 60 goats and five cows.
Local officials have provided locals with medicine and food,