RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The K-9 SAR Team of the Animal Police Directorate, Sabhara Corps, Baharkam Polri continues to support victim search operations in Flores. Deployed since Sunday, August 16, 2026, the team has been operating in several affected areas, including Manggarai and East Manggarai Regencies. The presence of K-9 tracking dogs provides additional capability to reach difficult locations that conventional teams cannot easily access.
Head of the Public Information Bureau of the Polri Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Pol. Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, stated that deploying the K-9 SAR Unit is part of Polri’s efforts to support maximum disaster victim management. “Polri continues to deploy its best capabilities to assist communities affected by the earthquake in NTT. The K-9 SAR Team has special abilities to detect the presence of victims, both alive and deceased, and is expected to help accelerate the search process in the field,” Trunoyudo said on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
Since arriving in Flores, the K-9 SAR team consisting of 21 personnel and 10 dogs with cadaver and canine search and rescue capabilities has been coordinating with local police offices. The team has also conducted animal care and repositioning from the East Manggarai Police to Manggarai Police and onward to the Reo Police Sector.
On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, searches were carried out at two locations in Reo. K-9 Rubin and Gizi swept Site A starting at 10:20 WITA, followed by K-9 Kyara and Dasa at the next site at 14:00 WITA. Before the search, the areas were cleared of zinc sheets, nails, and glass shards to ensure the safety of personnel and dogs.
In addition to search duties, the team also provided trauma healing for affected children using K-9 Rubin with handlers Brigadier Gabriella. This effort is crucial as many residents, especially children, remain traumatized by the ongoing seismic activity. After the search ended at 15:00 WITA, all dogs underwent health checks at the Polri Presisi Animal Hospital. The result showed no victims were found at either location and both areas were declared clear.
Trunoyudo emphasized that every search process is carried out methodically with safety as the top priority. “Before the search, the location is first sterilized and after the activity the health condition of the K-9 is checked again. This is part of the handling standard to ensure the entire process runs safely and optimally,” he explained. Polri also continues to coordinate with regional governments, Basarnas, TNI, and volunteers to ensure an integrated response in the field.
Polri confirmed that personnel support and special capabilities including the K-9 SAR will continue to be deployed as needed. With thousands still displaced and infrastructure damage widespread, the presence of the K-9 team is expected to accelerate identification and evacuation, while also providing reassurance to the people of Flores as they move from emergency response toward recovery.
The latest earthquake update adds urgency to these efforts. On Thursday, 20 August 2026, another quake struck East Nusa Tenggara. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency reported that aftershocks remain high across Flores following the magnitude 7.7 quake on 15 August. As of this morning, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency recorded more 68 people dead and more than 200 injured. Over 1,350 houses, dozens of schools, and health facilities have been affected, while several roads remain blocked by landslides.
Source : Polri Public Releation
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