Landslide rescue operation continues

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)