19,357 Military Officers Deployed To help Victims Of Natural Disasters

Jakarta, Jan 21 (Antara) - Some 19,357 military officers have been deployed to help the victims of natural disasters currently hitting parts of Indonesia. Chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Moeldoko has instructed all military officers throughout Indonesia to be on full alert during the current rainy season which has high precipitation, TNI spokesman Coloner Bernardus stated here on Tuesday. The TNI has set up flood mitigation command posts in Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Sumatra, and Manado. In Jakarta, 5,559 military officers have been helping flood victims in Cempaka Putih, Petamburan, Tanah Abang, Kapuk Muara, Pluit, Penjaringan, Kebon Jeruk, Cengkareng, Kapuk Raya, Bukit Duri, Cipulir, and Pangadegan. To help the flood victims in the capital city, the officers are equipped, among other things, with 128 rubber boats, 57 emergency tents, 30 ambulances, 34 makeshift kitchens, 89 trucks, 15 river boats, 42 inflatable boats, 30 outboard motor units, 565 buoys, one EC120B Colibri aircraft, and one SA330 aircraft. In West Java, the military officers have been deployed in flood-affected districts such as Bogor, Sukabumi, Bandung, Sumedang, Garut, Ciamis, Tasikmalaya, Karawang, Subang, Cirebon, Kuningan, Indramayu, Majalengka, Purwakarta, Pandeglang, Serang and Cilegon. In Central Java, 1,040 military officers are deployed in Magelang, Muntilan, Ngentak, Sawangan, Pekalongan, Buaran, Wiradesa, Sragitirto, Pemalang, Widuri, Sugiwaras, Batang, Donorojo, Tahunan, Kalibeluk, Warungasem, Kembang, Kalinyamatan and Kebonagung. In Sumatra, 1,147 officers have been helping flood victims in Bengkulu, Ogan Komering Ilir, Banyu Asin, Jambi, Merangi and Lampung. In Manado, North Sulawesi Province, 741 military officers have been deployed in Tinoor, Ranotana, Tambolang, Tomohon and Sario. They are equipped with four rubber boats, seven trucks, three Hercules aircraft, and 18 emergency tents, among other things. Floods have directly or indirectly killed 12 people in Jakarta, 16 in Manado and at least four in Bekasi (West Java Province).