The grim tally of victims from the devastating flash floods and landslides in Agam Regency, West Sumatra, continues its tragic ascent. On Saturday (6/12), the Joint Search and Rescue Unit (SRU) reported a heartbreaking discovery: five more bodies of those caught in the colossal ‘galodo’ (local term for large-scale flood) in Nagari Salareh Aia, Palembayan. This latest finding pushes the total number of fatalities from the calamitous events in Palembayan District to a staggering 122, while the fate of 49 individuals remains tragically unknown.
The day’s grim search began early. “This morning, around 10:50 AM Western Indonesian Time (WIB), we located the body of an adult female,” stated Fanni, a dedicated member of the search team, from the discovery site in Salareh Aia, Palembayan. “Her identity is yet to be confirmed as the identification process is still underway, a challenging task given the circumstances.”
The tragic discoveries continued swiftly. Not long after the first finding, and almost simultaneously, the team recovered the body of an adult male in Jorong Sawa Lawe. As the afternoon wore on, around 3:40 PM, the search efforts yielded three more victims at once: two adult males and a child, further deepening the sorrow for the affected communities.
A vehicle navigates through buildings destroyed by the flash flood in Palembayan, Agam Regency, West Sumatra. Photo: Wahyu Dwi Jayanto/Katadata (Katadata)
Fanni elaborated that all five recently recovered bodies were found submerged in the water’s flow. One body was located approximately 200 meters from the initial discovery point, while three others were found across the river from where the search commenced. The challenging conditions made it impossible for the team to ascertain any familial relationships among the victims, as the state of the remains rendered them difficult, if not impossible, to recognize.
“Regrettably, the bodies are no longer recognizable,” Fanni stated, underscoring the horrific impact of the disaster.
As the afternoon progressed, the relentless increase in rainfall compelled authorities to temporarily suspend search operations. The decision was made to ensure the safety of the valiant search and rescue personnel, who face perilous conditions daily.
“My paramount concern is the safety of my team members,” he affirmed. “Our search efforts are temporarily halted for today but will be diligently resumed tomorrow, as the quest for the missing continues.”
Summary
The grim tally of victims from flash floods and landslides in Agam Regency, West Sumatra, continues to rise. On Saturday (6/12), the Joint Search and Rescue Unit discovered five more bodies in Nagari Salareh Aia, Palembayan. This tragic finding pushes the total fatalities in Palembayan District to 122, with 49 individuals still missing.
The recently recovered victims included adult females, adult males, and a child, all found submerged in the water’s flow. Identification was challenging due to the severe state of the remains. Search operations were temporarily suspended later that day due to increased rainfall, prioritizing the safety of rescue personnel, but are scheduled to resume.
