Pacet landslide: Govt conducts evacuations, provides aid

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Social Affairs, through its disaster response team Tagana, is assisting in evacuating victims of the landslide in the Pacet area, Mojokerto district, East Java, and providing logistical aid.

"Tagana has participated in strengthening the Search and Rescue (SAR) team to evacuate the affected victims and set up a field kitchen in the location," Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf informed in a statement released here on Friday.

He explained that the logistics aid, which is being distributed through the field kitchen, has been provided to meet the food needs of volunteers and the SAR team there.

Yusuf noted that the logistics aid includes food packages for the field kitchen, which can prepare up to 500 meal portions per day.

In addition, coordination with related parties is being carried out continuously to ensure the evacuation process runs smoothly.

The minister said that weather factors, such as rain and wind, previously affected search efforts.

"The efforts that have been made include assessments and rapid assessments at the location, victim evacuation, and data collection of affected victims," he informed.

He also emphasized that the Ministry of Social Affairs will continue to ensure that assistance for victims and food logistics for the rescue team are available.

Ten people died in the landslide in the Pacet area on Thursday after it struck the road they were traveling on.

The head of Surabaya SAR Office, Nanang Sigit, informed in Surabaya city, East Java, on Friday that of the 10 victims, 7 were traveling in a minibus, while the other 3 were in a pickup truck.