File picture of rescuers searching for survivors after a landslide in South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, on May 4, 2021. - AFP
MEDAN: A family of three died after their car was hit by a landslide on Jl. Tarutung-Sibolga, Adian Koting district, North Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra on Saturday (Feb 3) afternoon. The three victims were husband Levianus Gea, 28, wife Mirawati Gea, 29 and their one-and-a half year old toddler Ansel Brian Gea.
All three died after their car was carried by the landslide off the road and down a cliff. The bodies of the three victims arrived at Gunung Sitoli port on Nias island around Monday noon, before being transported to the husband’s parents' house at Lasara village, Namohalu Esiwa district, North Nias regency.
Irwan Gea, father of Levianus Gea, said the family was still waiting for relatives from Pekanbaru, neighbouring Riau province, to arrive before starting the victims’ funerals. “If they arrive in North Nias tomorrow [Tuesday], we will bury the three victims by Thursday at the latest,” Irwan Gea said on Monday.
Irwan said the three victims had intended to visit Levianus Gea’s sick mother in Lasara village. The family of three departed from Medan on Saturday morning before being hit by the moving material in North Tapanuli.
The landslide, which occurred at around 5pm local time on Saturday, also injured 14 others, mostly travelers using cars and motorcycles. North Tapanuli Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) secretary Jonner Simanjuntak said seven victims were lightly injured and being treated at the Parsikkaman Community Health Center (puskesmas) in Adian Koting district.
Meanwhile the rest, who were more severely injured, were brought to Tarutung Regional Hospital. Jonner said Saturday’s landslides occurred on three separate sections of Jl. Tarutung-Sibolga simultaneously: KM 25 at Pagaran Pisang village, KM 30 at Sibalanga village and KM 31 at Pagaran Lambung I village, all three sections are located in the Adian Koting district of North Tapanuli.
He added that the area worst affected was Pagaran Lambung I village, in which one house was heavily damaged. Several vehicles passing through the area were also hit by the moving debris.
“In total, five cars were hit by landslides, one of them was even dragged down the side of the cliff, which killed the three victims,” Jonner said, referring to the Gea family.
He said the authorities had cleared away the material and vehicles could already pass through the affected road. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
