JAKARTA, Indonesia: The death toll from a landslide in Indonesia’s West Java province has risen to 53, with at least 10 people still missing, authorities said on Saturday, as rescue teams continue to search through mud and debris for survivors.
The landslide struck Pasirlangu village in West Bandung regency, southeast of the capital Jakarta, after heavy rainfall, burying dozens of homes and displacing around 685 people.
“As of 4 p.m. (0900 GMT), a total of 53 body bags have been recovered, and the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team has identified 38 victims,” said Ade Dian Permana, head of the Bandung Search and Rescue Office.
Thousands of rescuers, supported by the military, police and volunteers, have been combing the affected area with heavy machinery and sniffer dogs, searching for the missing.
The emergency response has been extended until February 6, Dian said, as the challenging terrain and adverse weather continue to hamper operations.
So far, 75 people have been rescued, while 27 remain unaccounted for out of 155 affected residents.
The landslide destroyed more than 50 houses and caused severe disruption to the community.
The Indonesian Navy confirmed that 23 soldiers conducting a border patrol training exercise in the area were caught in the landslide.
As of January 27, four have been confirmed dead, while 19 remain missing, Navy Chief of Staff Muhammad Ali said.
Authorities have highlighted that forest loss contributes to landslides and flooding by reducing soil stability and water absorption.
Last year, heavy rainfall triggered a series of floods and landslides on Sumatra island, killing around 1,200 people and displacing more than 240,000.
Such disasters are common across Indonesia’s archipelago during the rainy season, which typically runs from October to March.
Earlier this month, heavy rain caused flash floods on Siau island, killing at least 16 people.
The local search and rescue agency, Basarnas, has faced funding cuts despite the growing number of natural disasters.
On January 28, a parliamentary panel reduced its budget, raising concerns among disaster management officials.
Ade Dian said the ongoing operations were being conducted in accordance with the declared emergency response status, with a planned 14-day rescue effort subject to review on the seventh day.
