JAKARTA (UCAN): At least 11 people were killed in landslides that hit several villages in North Tarakan and Central Tarakan subdistricts in Indonesia’s North Kalimantan province on September 28, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said.
BNPB spokesperson, Raditya Jati, said the landslides, triggered by heavy downpours, also left three people injured and damaged 19 houses, “The BNBP was coordinating relief and rescue efforts with local and provincial disaster mitigation agencies,” this included the evacuation of an undisclosed number of villagers and the provision of relief supplies, he said.
Prior to the disaster, the BNPB had warned of potential flooding and landslides in several parts of the country, including North Kalimantan.
“There is no Caritas emergency response plan yet. The impacts of the landslides can still be managed by local authorities but the local team was offering help,” Aryo Saptoaji, an emergency response team member with Caritas Indonesia, said adding that it was in contact with its branch in the Diocese of Tanjung Selor, one of the areas hit.
According to Poor Daughters of St. Joseph Sister Juliva Motulo from the Caritas team in Tanjung Selor, “Two of the dead were 10-month old twins.”
She said that her team and a local parish had sent volunteers to disaster sites to report on the situation and offer immediate help.
