Rescue teams in Indonesia are currently engaged in a challenging operation to locate numerous individuals who may be trapped under mud and debris following a destructive landslide in a village on Java Island.
The tragic event, which occurred on the slopes of Mount Burangrang in West Java, has resulted in the confirmed deaths of at least 11 people, with 79 individuals still unaccounted for. Witnesses described a deluge of mud, rocks, and trees cascading down the mountain after days of heavy rainfall, destroying 34 homes in Pasir Langu village and forcing survivors to flee with only the clothes on their backs.
Over 230 nearby residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters as authorities fear the death toll could escalate. Additional bodies were discovered amidst the wreckage, bringing the total number of fatalities to 11, as reported by Ade Dian Permana of the local search and rescue office.
Footage released by Indonesia’s rescue agency, Basarnas, depicts emergency workers painstakingly clearing mud with basic tools to retrieve victims buried under the debris. Limited use of heavy machinery is attributed to the unstable ground conditions.
In response to the disaster, Indonesia’s vice president, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, visited the affected village and pledged to implement measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. He called for enhanced land management practices in disaster-prone areas to mitigate risks.
The search and rescue mission is being hampered by adverse weather conditions and difficult terrain, according to Basarnas chief Mohammad Syafii. Despite the challenges, efforts are ongoing to locate missing individuals using various resources, prioritizing safety above all.
Indonesia frequently experiences flooding and landslides during the rainy season, spanning from October to April. The country’s geographical composition, with numerous islands and mountainous regions, poses inherent risks to its population residing in vulnerable areas.
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