National Police Deploy Aircraft, Helicopters, and Sniffer Dogs to NTT
The Indonesian National Police have deployed a number of air assets to several isolated areas to accelerate the handling of the impact of the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
Head of Public Information at the Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, said one of the assets deployed was a Cassa aircraft for primary mobility because land routes had been cut off.
“A Police Cassa aircraft has already been stationed there and was used by the NTT Regional Police Chief together with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum immediately after the incident to reach areas such as Labuan Bajo and Ende,” he told reporters at the Police Air Headquarters in Pondok Cabe, South Tangerang, on Sunday (16/8).
“This is the most important means of transport because some land routes have been cut off, so the speed of an aircraft is certainly very much needed,” he added.
In addition to the Cassa aircraft, Trunoyudo said the police had also placed three helicopters on standby for evacuation and logistics distribution to areas that were difficult to reach.
“Then there are three AW-169 helicopters. They are intended for distributing aid to affected communities, particularly those in isolated and limited-access areas, and for speed,” he said.
Sniffer dogs
The police also dispatched search and rescue personnel, sniffer dogs or K9 units, and logistical aid to support the earthquake disaster response in NTT.
The departure was carried out from the Police Air Headquarters in Pondok Cabe, Pamulang, South Tangerang, Banten, on Sunday morning.
The team was dispatched using a Police CN295 or Airbus C295 aircraft with registration number P-4501. A total of 21 personnel from the Police Animal Directorate were deployed to support the search and rescue of victims.
In addition to personnel, the police deployed 10 K9 dogs with the ability to assist in searching for victims, particularly in locations that had suffered damage or were buried under building materials.
Head of Public Information at the Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, said the deployment of personnel was carried out taking into account needs on the ground.
Besides personnel and K9 units, the aircraft carried search and rescue equipment as well as a number of logistical aid items with a total weight of around 2.5 tonnes.
The aid sent included three sets of white tents, six sets of platoon tents, 10 Wontech units, and 648 portions of ready-to-eat meals.
Upon arrival in NTT, the placement of personnel and K9 units will be coordinated with the NTT Regional Police. A number of areas have been made priorities for mitigation as well as search and rescue of victims.
The police said the areas of Sikka, Manggarai, and East Manggarai were among those receiving attention in the operation. However, personnel will also be moved to other areas if, based on coordination, there is a need for search, evacuation, or mitigation.
Furthermore, he said all officers were currently mapping which areas had been isolated as a result of the earthquake disaster.
On a separate note, Trunoyudo said National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo had given instructions to all ranks to carry out mitigation and provide assistance to disaster victims.
“From the outset, the National Police Chief ordered the NTT Regional Police Chief to immediately take mitigation steps, evacuate victims, and of course to accelerate the mitigation process, support from the National Police Headquarters is needed,” he explained.
“Previously, the NTT Regional Police ranks had already acted directly, with district police mitigating the disaster and evacuating victims, collaborating and synergising with all relevant stakeholders in the NTT Regional Police and the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum,” he added.
The number of fatalities from the magnitude 7.7 earthquake centred in Nagakeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, in the early hours of Saturday (15/8) Western Indonesian Time, was reported to have reached 51 people.
Based on provisional data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as of Saturday at 6.48 p.m. Western Indonesian Time, the fatalities were spread across Manggarai Regency with 24 people, East Manggarai with 17, Sikka with 3, Ngada with 1, and Ende with 1.
Meanwhile, as of Saturday afternoon at 5.00 p.m. Western Indonesian Time, the total number of heavily damaged houses was recorded at 157 units, moderately damaged at 41 units, and lightly damaged at 148 units.
Damage also occurred to public facilities, including 87 educational facilities, 18 health facilities, 5 places of worship, 6 offices, and a number of other public facilities.