Rescuers in Indonesia are tirelessly working to locate numerous individuals feared trapped under layers of dense mud and debris following a devastating landslide that struck a village on Java island.
The catastrophic event, which occurred in Pasir Langu village on the slopes of Mount Burangrang in West Java, has resulted in at least 11 confirmed fatalities, with 79 individuals still unaccounted for. Survivors recounted how torrents of mud, rocks, and trees cascaded down the hillside, obliterating 34 homes and leaving families with only the clothes on their backs.
Over 230 residents residing near the disaster site have been evacuated to temporary government shelters amidst concerns of a potential surge in the death toll. Two additional bodies were recovered, raising the confirmed death toll to 11, as reported by Ade Dian Permana from the local search and rescue office.
Footage released by Indonesia’s rescue agency Basarnas depicts emergency workers laboring to extract a body from the mud with basic tools and their hands, as heavy machinery struggles to operate due to the soft and unstable ground conditions.
Indonesia’s vice president, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, visited the ravaged village and pledged to address issues to prevent similar tragedies in the future. He called on local authorities to address land conversion problems in disaster-prone zones and implement stronger measures to mitigate risks.
Mohammad Syafii, the head of Basarnas, highlighted the challenges posed by the weather and difficult terrain, making the search operation even more arduous. Despite the obstacles, efforts utilizing drones, K-9 units, and ground teams are being deployed with safety as the top priority.
Indonesia experiences frequent floods and landslides during the rainy season, usually spanning from October to April. With its vast archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands, many residents inhabit mountainous regions or flood-prone plains, making them susceptible to natural disasters.