DEATH TOLL IN JAVA LANDSLIDE RISES TO 53, TEN STILL MISSING
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The death toll from a landslide that struck Indonesia’s main island of Java a week ago has risen to 53, rescue officials confirmed on Saturday, with at least 10 people still unaccounted for.
The landslide was triggered by intense rainfall that hit Pasirlangu village in the West Bandung region, southeast of the capital, Jakarta. The disaster damaged more than 50 houses and displaced about 650 residents.
Thousands of rescuers, supported by the military, police and volunteers, have been combing through thick mud and debris in search of survivors and victims. According to the head of the local search and rescue agency, Ade Dian Permana, 53 bodies had been recovered and identified as of Saturday, up from an earlier figure of 44.
Permana said at least 10 people remain missing, but noted that improved weather conditions were aiding ongoing search efforts. The search and rescue operation in the affected area has been extended until Friday.
The Indonesian navy earlier disclosed that 23 of its personnel who were undergoing training in the area were among those caught in the landslide.
Authorities have again drawn attention to the role of deforestation in worsening flooding and landslides across the country. The government previously blamed forest loss for severe floods and landslides on Sumatra island late last year, which killed about 1,200 people and displaced more than 240,000.
Experts note that forests help absorb rainfall and stabilise soil through their root systems, while deforested areas are far more vulnerable to landslides.
Indonesia frequently experiences such disasters during the rainy season, which typically runs from October to March. Earlier this month, torrential rains also triggered flash floods on Siau island, killing at least 16 people.
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