On 6 March 2023, a series of landslides were triggered by continuous rain in Serasan Island of Serasan District, Natuna Regency, Riau Islands, Indonesia. Around 50 people were killed and four others are still missing while contact to the Serasan Island was entirely lost.[1][2][3] An entire village was reportedly buried.[4][5][6][7]
Aftermath
Riau Islands provincial government dispatched 25 police personnel to the island for initial relief efforts.[8] Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency of Natuna Regency and 318th Natuna Military District also dispatched two ships. The relief effort is hampered due to the heavy rains which forced the search efforts to halt on several occasions as well as the islands' remote location which takes 5 hours using a boat normally during calm weather from the capital of the regency, Ranai.[9] A search and rescue team was dispatched from Ranai with a total of 36 people.[10] The landslides resulted in total blackout of electricity and telecommunication connection to the island, making contact with the outside world difficult.[11] The landslides also damaged major roads across the island.[12]
Emergency assistance
Indonesia National Disaster Management Agency provided logistical assistance and equipment as an effort to accelerate landslide emergency handling. The assistance that will be provided is in the form of Ready-to-Use Funds worth 1 billion rupiah for emergency handling and meeting the basic needs of refugees. The logistical assistance provided was in the form of four refugee tents, 100 family tents, 500 blankets, 500 mattresses, 15 2 kVA electric generators, 1,500 food packages, 1,500 rendang packages, 200 velbeds, and 100 salt lamps.[13] The four evacuation points are spread across the PLBN refugee camp which accommodates 219 people, the Serasah Community Health Center refugee camp which can accommodate 215 people, the Pelimpak and Al Furqon Mosque refugee camps which accommodate 500 people, and the Serasan High School refugee camp which accommodates 282 people.[14] As of March 14 2023, around 2835 affected people had to evacuate to refugee camps[15]
