Jakarta (Indonesia): At least seven people have died and 82 others are missing after a landslide struck Indonesia’s West Java province, the country’s disaster mitigation agency said on Saturday, as heavy rainfall continued to batter the region.
According to local officials, the landslide hit a village in the West Bandung area, causing extensive damage and trapping residents under debris. Rescue teams have been deployed to the affected site, and search operations are ongoing despite difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, said the high number of missing persons has prompted authorities to intensify rescue efforts. He added that teams are working to optimise search and rescue operations to locate survivors as quickly as possible.
Indonesia’s meteorological agency had earlier issued warnings of extreme weather conditions, forecasting heavy rainfall across West Java for at least a week starting Friday. Local media outlet Kompas.com reported that persistent rain may have increased the risk of landslides in vulnerable areas.
Authorities have urged residents in landslide-prone zones to remain alert as weather conditions are expected to remain severe in the coming days.
