Dozens of East Flores, NTT Residents Killed in Landslides, Deputy District Director: Can’t Dig Everything

LARANTUKA, KOMPAS.com – Dozens of residents in Nelelamadike Village, Ileboleng District, East Flores, NTT, were buried by landslides while inside on Sunday morning (4/4/2021).

The regent deputy of Flores del Este, Agustín Boli, said that he had asked the BPBD of Este de Flores and various parties to go to the countryside to evacuate the victims.

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However, Agus has not been able to say how many residents were victims of landslides.

“According to a report from Nelelamadike village chief Pius Sword Melai, dozens of residents died buried and could not be excavated because there was no heavy equipment,” Agus said when contacted. Kompas.com, Sunday.

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Agus explained that the landslides were caused by heavy rains accompanied by strong winds that occurred from Saturday (3/4/2021) to Sunday.

In addition to the landslides, the heavy rains also caused the flooding of several parts of the area.

Nelelamadike Village Chief Pius Sword Melai said the search for dozens of victims was hampered by the availability of heavy equipment.

“We can only look for victims who have not been found in the vicinity of the incident who may be floating, but we cannot do the excavation manually because the area is full of mud,” he said when contacted by Antara de Kupang on Sunday.

In addition to heavy equipment, heavy rains accompanied by strong winds that still hit the area also made finding victims difficult.

As for the exact number of victims, he said, data collection is still ongoing.

“But the figure that has not been found is in the dozens of people, because there are dozens of houses affected by landslides,” said Pius.

So far, heavy rains accompanied by strong winds still hit the Flores del Este region.