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By APD Writer Maverick \
JAKARTA, July 3 (APD) – Eight crews of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) were killed in a crash of a helicopter operated by the agency when they were on a mission to rescue those affected by sporadic lava spew in Dieng plateau, Central Java province.
Bodies of those ill-fated rescuers were recovered on Monday morning, were immediately transported evacuated to provincial police hospital in Semarang for further identification before being handed over to their families, a senior police officer said.
“It is already confirmed, the killed ones were 8 people,” Central Java Police Chief Condro Kirono said in the searcher’s team command post in the province’s town of Temanggung.
He said the searchers have also found the helicopter’s flight and voice data recorder (blackbox) set around the crash site.
“It may take times to find out technical aspects that led to the crash. Investigation into the crash would be jointly carried out by experts from Basarnas and KNKT (National Commission for Transportation Safety),” Condro added.
Spokesperson of Central Java provincial Basarnas agency Zulhawary Agustianto said on Sunday night that the helicopter was allegedly hit a cliff in Butak Mount, district of Candiroto in Temanggung.
Those onboard the crashed helicopter were four chopper crews and four rescuers, the agency stated.
The crashed Dauphin helicopter was dispatched to Dieng plateau around 4.00 p.m. from Semarang to respond the lava spurting in Sileri Crater on Sunday noon.
Sileri Crater is the most active one among several craters in the province’s popular tour destination located in the higher ground.
According to the Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the lava spurt in Sileri Crater affected 17 tourists who come to the crater to spend holiday with their families during the nation’s week-long day off to observe Muslim’s Eid festivity.
BNPB Spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Sunday that most of the affected ones suffered various injuries from bruises to arm fracture.
Authorities have warned locals and tourists to stay away from the spurting crater in an anticipation of further volcanic activities, he added.
The lava spurt in Sileri Crater was categorized as Phreatic eruption, releasing hot underground steam, mixed with cold lava, mud and water, according to Sutopo.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
