UI Deploys Forensic Odontology Team to Identify KM Virgo Victims
Depok (ANTARA) - The University of Indonesia (UI) has deployed a forensic odontology team from the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG UI) to assist in identifying the victims of the KM Virgo Transport 8 tragedy.
The team is participating in the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) operation, a process for identifying disaster victims, organised by the Medical and Health Division (Biddokkes) of the South Kalimantan Regional Police in collaboration with the Bhayangkara Level III Hospital Banjarmasin.
The person in charge of the FKG UI Forensic Odontology (OF) Team, Dr Nurtami, stated on Friday that the team is tasked with performing primary identification through dental data examination.
“We are conducting post-mortem dental examinations, which include recording odontograms, documentation, identifying specific features, age estimation, and recording other odontological characteristics that can support the identification process,” said Dr Nurtim.
Additionally, the team is collecting and evaluating ante-mortem dental data—information from the victims’ lives—such as dental medical records, dental radiographs, profile photographs showing the teeth, and other specific odontological features. This data is obtained from the victims’ families or relatives, dentists, and healthcare facilities that previously treated the victims.
The results of the post-mortem dental examinations are then matched with the ante-mortem dental data to achieve positive victim identification.
To date, 47 bodies have been identified using primary methods, such as fingerprints and dental data, as well as secondary methods, including medical data and the victims’ personal property.
The FKG UI Forensic Odontology team includes specialists Dr Linda Yuliati, M.H., Dr Miky Raja Manullang, Dr M.A. Majedi, M.H., and alumnus Dr Ferdy Rijaldi, M.H., Sp.OF. They travelled with the support of the UI Directorate of Community Service and Social Innovation (DPIS UI) through the UI Peduli programme.
During the mission, the team is working alongside the Bhayangkara Level III Hospital Banjarmasin, the South Kalimantan Regional Police DVI Team, the Police Odontology Division (Bidodontopol), and the National Police Identification Centre (Pusident). The operation also involves the Faculty of Dentistry at Lambung Mangkurat University (FKG ULM), the FKG ULM Alumni Association, Gusti Hasan Aman Dental Hospital, and medico-legal forensic specialists.
The Dean of FKG UI, Prof. Dr Lisa Rinanda Amir, stated that the involvement of the FKG UI academic community in the DVI operation is a form of contributing dental science to humanity.
“The involvement of FKG UI in this DVI operation is a tangible form of contributing dental science to support the scientific identification process of victims and to help families obtain certainty,” said Prof. Lisa.
The involvement of the FKG UI Forensic Odontology Team demonstrates UI’s commitment to humanitarian and disaster issues through science that directly benefits society. UI is committed to continuously applying forensic odontology expertise in disaster situations and collaborating with the police, hospitals, and forensic professionals to ensure an integrated identification process.