Discovery of Baby Victim of Landslide in Pekalongan
In a tragic turn of events, the aftermath of a landslide and flash flood in Desa Kasimpar, Kecamatan Petungkriyono, Kabupaten Pekalongan, Jawa Tengah has revealed the heartbreaking discovery of four victims on the second day of search operations on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
Among the four victims found lifeless was a 5-month-old baby boy named Afkar Abiyan. The other victims include Aisyah, Ta’ari, and Ta’adi, who were all previously listed as missing in the wake of the devastating flood and landslide that occurred on Monday, January 20, 2025.
With the recovery of these four missing victims, the death toll has risen to 21 as of Thursday morning, January 23, 2025, up from the initial count of 17 casualties. Tragically, there are still five individuals missing and unaccounted for.
Identification of Victims and Continued Search Efforts
The victims identified from the landslide tragedy in Pekalongan include a mix of individuals from various villages, highlighting the widespread impact of the natural disaster. The search and rescue efforts are being carried out diligently by a combined team of 300 personnel divided into 4 Search and Rescue Units (SRU).
As the search continues into its third day on Thursday, January 23, 2025, the community remains hopeful for the safe recovery of the missing individuals. The search operations are concentrated around key areas such as the residence of Sekdes Kasimpar, the vicinity of Cafe Allo, and the fishing grounds.
Heartbreaking Moments of Discovery
The discovery of the four victims on the second day of search operations unfolded in a series of poignant moments that underscored the gravity of the situation. Budiono, the Head of the Basarnas Semarang Office, recounted the heart-wrenching details of finding the deceased individuals.
Aisyah’s body was the first to be located at a distance of 4.7 km from the incident site at 10:06 AM. Shortly after, Ta’ari was discovered in sector 2 above a house in Carik Desa Kasimpar at 10:53 AM. Two hours later, at around 12:05 PM, the search and rescue team located the lifeless body of Afkar Arbiyan, the 5-month-old infant, in sector 1. Tragically, the baby’s body was entangled in a bamboo tree not far from his home.
Finally, at 6:45 PM, Ta’adi’s body was found beneath a broken bridge following a tip-off from a concerned resident. The identification and retrieval of Ta’adi’s remains marked the conclusion of a harrowing day for the search and rescue team.
The arduous search efforts and the emotional weight of the discoveries serve as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of natural disasters on communities and families. The collective resilience and unwavering commitment of the rescue teams continue to inspire hope amidst the tragedy.
