SOUTH BANGKA -- Recovery efforts continue for residents affected by a fire in Serdang Hamlet, Jelutung II Village, South Bangka Regency. On Thursday (October 15, 2026), PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk deployed its Emergency Response Group (ERG) team to assist communities affected by the disaster.
In collaboration with the local government and various stakeholders, PT TIMAH provided free healthcare services, school supplies, portable toilets, and psychological support for children.
The ERG team installed four portable toilets at the evacuation shelter located at SD Negeri 7 Simpang Rimba elementary school. These facilities are expected to help displaced residents meet their basic sanitation needs during the evacuation period.
In addition to providing sanitation facilities, PT TIMAH offered free healthcare services through its Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) program. These services are part of the company's efforts to help protect residents' health amid post-fire conditions.
Special attention was also given to children who lost their school supplies in the fire. Through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, PT TIMAH distributed hundreds of school supply packages to students ranging from kindergarten to senior high school. The assistance included school uniforms, shoes, stationery, and other essential educational items.
South Bangka Regional Secretary Hefi Nuranda expressed his appreciation for the assistance. He emphasized that school supplies were urgently needed to help children return to their studies, even as their families continued to recover from the disaster.
"We are grateful to PT TIMAH and everyone who has provided assistance, including healthcare services, school supplies, and portable toilets," he said.
Hefi reported that the disaster affected 348 houses and 1,578 residents. He expressed hope that all stakeholders would continue working together to support post-disaster recovery efforts.
According to Hefi, assistance from various organizations has provided encouragement to residents as they navigate this difficult period. Aid continues to arrive from both within Bangka Belitung and other regions, reflecting a strong spirit of solidarity and mutual cooperation in supporting affected communities.
Beyond meeting immediate physical needs, PT TIMAH also prioritized children's psychological recovery. In collaboration with the Student Executive Council of the Syaikh Abdurrahman Siddik State Islamic Institute (IAIN SAS) of Bangka Belitung, the company's ERG team organized trauma recovery activities to help children cope with the emotional impact of losing their homes and familiar surroundings.
These activities aim to provide a supportive environment where children can regain a sense of safety, express their emotions, and rebuild their confidence in returning to everyday activities.
Ali Samsuri, Chairman of PT TIMAH's Emergency Response Group, explained that the deployed team was assigned to support post-disaster recovery efforts. He added that the team had coordinated with local authorities and relevant stakeholders to help accelerate the recovery process.
"Before deploying our personnel, the ERG team monitored conditions at the disaster site and coordinated with relevant government agencies to identify the community's most urgent needs. Today, our team has established a response post to assist residents affected by the disaster," he said.
He added that the ERG team would continue monitoring developments at the disaster site. Further deployments and assistance would be evaluated based on community needs and the results of ongoing coordination with the local government.
Ali emphasized that humanitarian operations must prioritize the safety and needs of affected residents and that assistance must reach those who need it most.
For residents of Serdang Hamlet, such as Ayu (34), recovery involves more than rebuilding homes destroyed by the fire. Children need to return to school, families must rebuild their lives from the ground up, and essential daily needs must continue to be met.
"Our house was completely destroyed by the fire. Thank God, today my child, who is in kindergarten, received school supplies from PT TIMAH. This has brought some comfort to my child, who was very sad because none of the school supplies could be saved. We have been staying at the evacuation shelter for almost six days because we lost everything. We hope there will be further assistance so we can rebuild our home," she said.
Through the provision of sanitation facilities, healthcare services, school supplies, and psychological support, PT TIMAH seeks to contribute to collaborative efforts to help affected communities overcome this difficult period and restore hope in the aftermath of the disaster. (*)
