UNS — The car of Taskforce for Natural Disaster Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta was reported to get caught in Mount Semeru volcanic mudflow on Tuesday (7/12/2021). The Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Affairs UNS (WR III), Prof. Kuncoro Diharjo, clarified the news.
Prof. Kuncoro stated that the UNS volunteer team was helping the evacuation of local people in the Kamar Kajang area, Sumberwuluh, Candipuro Subdistrict, Lumajang District, East Java. The team succeeded in evacuating two people left in the hamlet before bringing them to the safe meeting spot to undergo a medical check. The team returned to the hamlet to ensure that nobody was left and found that everyone had evacuated. The team was driving back to the post when the volcanic mudflow entered the hamlet and trapped their 4×4 Toyota Hilux.
“The car was stuck on stones from the volcanic mudflow, it was hard to move, and the mud was getting high. They need to think for safety; thus, the driver and rescuer saved themselves because once the mud is high, they won’t be able to open the door and get out; it was riskier. They run to a safe sport. The car was left behind,” Prof. Kuncoro explained.
The driver and rescuer are safe from the volcanic mudflow. However, their car was buried deep in the volcanic materials. Prof. Kuncoro greatly appreciated the struggle of the UNS team sent to Mount Semeru, which he considers as the maximum efforts from UNS Taskforce for Natural Disaster.
“I think this is the maximum effort from the rescuers in the field. We could imagine if we did not move, the life of those two locals could be at risk; we never know. This is unexpected. At least we have given our optimum efforts to save two people,” he added.
Several efforts have been taken to evacuate the buried car with the help of other SAR teams and the Indonesia Offroad Federation (IOA) team. However, the hot volcanic material and the sinking motion of the mud caused by footsteps proved that it is harder than one’s expectation. However, a plan has been set to dig the car using excavating equipment.
“Yesterday, there was an evacuation effort taken by IOF to help, but it was hard because the car was buried in solid mud. It was not successful. We hope that today excavator could be sent there to evacuate the car. The car could be fixed as used again,” Prof. Kuncoro concluded.
UNS Taskforce for Semeru disaster was sent to Lumajang District, East Java, on Sunday (5/12/2021). The team has 15 members, three doctors, two nurses, five medical personnel, three rescuers, and two Alumni Association (IKA) UNS volunteers. The team will conduct their duties in the next ten days before the new team takes their position. Currently, the team has one fully functioning ambulance. Humas UNS
Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti