Landslide rescue operation continues

MANADO, North Sulawesi (JP): Rescue workers continued digging through the mud on Tuesday in an effort to find victims of the landslides triggered by days of heavy rains on Sangir island, Sangihe Talaud regency, North Sulawesi, that killed at least 34 people.

"We are still trying to locate 19 people who have been missing since the landslides ... we hope to find them soon as on Monday we found two survivors of the disaster," Soleman M. Kakoe, chief of Manado's Search and Rescue Agency told The Jakarta Post by phone.

Relief workers rescued two men who had been half-buried by the mud for more than two days in Likuang village, the officer said.

The two were being treated at a local hospital, he added.

"We have not given up hope of finding more survivors. We think that the 19 locals were washed away as the dam near their village broke due to a massive river of mud," he said.

Officials of the provincial administration are planning to visit the site of the incident on Tuesday to drop off emergency supplies and aid.

"They will leave by boat on Wednesday morning," Soleman said.

Separately, North Sulawesi Governor A.J. Sondakh estimated that the calamities had caused no less than Rp 3 billion (US$315,789) in losses.

The 575-kilometer road linking Tahuna and the three disaster- hit regencies has been severely damaged.

Heavy rains had been falling since Jan. 17, and precipitated the landslides, which were followed by an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter Scale, hitting five villages in the three regencies of Tamako, Tabukan Utara and Manganitu in the early hours of Sunday, destroying 40 houses and cutting roads in several places.

Casualties have come from the five villages of Karatung II and Toloarane in Manganitu regency, Belengan and Ujung Peliang in Tamako regency and Bangkitang in Tabukan regency. The disaster zone is located only about 15 kilometers away from Tahuna port and around 209 kilometers from Manado port. (edt/48)