Fire Victim Identification Team is Sent
VIVAnews - Six members of the disaster victim identification team from Indonesian Police was sent to Australia on Friday, 13 February, 9.00am. According to Indonesian National Police Spokesperson, Inspector Gen. Abubakar Nataprawira, the team was sent by the Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda and Indonesian Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri.
"The team is sent because of the Australian government's request," said Nataprawira at the Indonesian National Police Headquarter, Jakarta, Thursday, Feb. 12.
Nataprawira added that the team consists of 20 members. The team from the Indonesian Police Center for Medical and Health Service will identify the victim's bodies using DNA sampling.
Nataprawira said that the request from the Australian government shows that they have put their trust on the Indonesian Police identification team. "We should feel proud that we can help," he added.
The Indonesian government decided to send forensic experts from the Indonesian Police to help identify the bushfire victims in Australia in addition to donating US$1 million. The aid is a form of solidarity between Indonesian government with Australia after the severe bushfire in the country.
Around 181 people have been killed, 500 wounded, and 1,000 houses burned down. The bushfires have also destroyed around 365 thousand acres of land since it started since last week in Victoria, southeast of Australia.
The death toll will most likely increase. The Marysville city administration said that one fifth of their citizens had been killed. They presumed that there are still many bodies buried under the ruins.
The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, suspected that the fire which spreads across 20 spots has been lit deliberately.
The bushfires have burned down Marysville and Kingslake. The Australian police said that Kingslake has been completely burned down to the ground.
Translated by: Ariyantri E. Tarman
