The flash flood that hit Sentani District in Papua claimed many casualties. In an effort to save people affected by the flood, Indonesian military deployed its personnel to support the effort to search and rescue victims and mitigation of the disaster. During the effort, Indonesian military personnel rescued many victims that were trapped due to the flood. One of the effort that attract media attention and gone viral was Indonesian military personnel successfully rescued a five month old Papuan baby trapped underneath a flooded house.
Personnel from 751 Infantry Battallion based in Jayapura deployed its personnel to support the search and rescue of the victims and mitigation of the disaster. One of the team consisted of Sergeant Hanafi, Sergeant Samsi, Private Yacob and Private Syahril conducted search and rescue in Kampung Taruna at Jalan Sosial Sentani.
During the searh, Private Syahril found a baby trapped underneath flooded house and surrounded by ruins and wooden debris. Then, Private Syahril and his colleagues managed to get the baby out safely by using two chop saws to cut the wood and clear the ruins. The baby was identified to be indigenous Papua, but the parents were nowhere to be found.
Holding the baby, Private Syahril then began to rush to the nearest clinic on his motorcycle, but fortunate enough to encounter an ambulance passing by on his way to the clinic. The ambulance helped to evacuate the baby and delivered the baby to Public Medical Centre “Puskesmas”. The baby was later reunited with his family. His father survived but his mother’s whereabouts still unknown.
Local residents said torrential rain began on Saturday evening and continued into the night, triggering mudslides and flash floods. At least 82 people have died and more than 60 are missing in the aftermath of the flash floods. Rescue workers are still working to provide care, search and rescue for the victims because it is predicted that the number of dead may rise. Roads have been blocked by landslides and fallen trees, and floodwaters have damaged two bridges and more than 100 houses. More than 4,000 people have been forced to leave their homes, and some are sheltering in government offices. The search for victims continues in the town of Sentani, one of the worst affected areas. At least 51 people were killed in the town according national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.
The effort to save the baby by the Indonesian military personnel may be seen as a simple act of heroism. But Tell The Truth believes that the act of heroism by Indonesian military personnel need to perpetuated as a representation of Indonesian military role and contribution in Papua to provide safe and secure environment for the prosperity of the Papuan people. The contribution of Indonesian military personnel in helping Papuan affected by the flash flood in Sentani District, Papua Province may not attract foreign and international media, so we must strive to do our own part.
