Police deploy SAR team and K-9 unit to assist search for NTT earthquake victims

The Indonesian National Police has deployed SAR personnel from the Animal Police Directorate of the Sabhara Corps, Baharkam Polri, along with K-9 dogs to assist in the search for victims affected by the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

“Specifically for SAR competence from the Animal Police Directorate, we are dispatching 21 personnel along with 10 K-9 dogs that have the competence to conduct victim searches,” said Head of the Public Information Bureau of the Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, in a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday.

Trunoyudo said the team also brought supporting equipment for victim searches as well as logistical aid with a total weight of around 2.5 tonnes. The aid sent includes medicines, field tents, food, supplies for vulnerable groups, and various other supporting equipment. In addition, 10 portable Wi-Fi units were also sent to help overcome communication obstacles in several affected areas.

“Communication is very important there. When communication can be reached, information about conditions on the ground will also be obtained more quickly,” he said.

He said speed is one of the important factors in the search and rescue process for victims. The deployed team will immediately coordinate with the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police to determine task distribution and priority areas.

Several areas that are of initial concern in the mitigation and victim search process are Sikka, Manggarai, and East Manggarai regencies. However, aid will be adjusted according to conditions and needs on the ground.

The flight of the SAR team and aid used a Police Air aircraft from Pondok Cabe Airport, South Tangerang, to Labuan Bajo. The journey is estimated to take around three hours with a time difference of one hour earlier in the Central Indonesia Time zone.

Furthermore, in addition to personnel and logistics, the Police have also prepared three AW169 helicopters to support the distribution of aid to the public, especially in areas that are isolated or experiencing limited access due to the disaster.

The Police CASA aircraft had been in the NTT region before the disaster and was used after the disaster to accelerate mobility to several areas, including Labuan Bajo and other regions.

Trunoyudo confirmed that aid will continue to be sent on an ongoing basis based on the results of needs assessment on the ground. The dispatch of aid is planned to be carried out again on Monday (17/8) and the following day according to priority needs.

“This aid will continue to be carried out on an ongoing basis. We will continue to receive data on needs and then send them again,” he said.