Khaberni - The National Agency for Disaster Management in Indonesia announced that 7 people were killed and 82 are missing, after a landslide occurred in West Java province.
An Indonesian official stated that the landslide struck a village in the West Bandung area, noting the number of missing is high and expressed hope in intensifying search and rescue efforts today.
The Indonesian Meteorology Agency had earlier warned of severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall in West Java province for a week, as reported by the local site "Kompas".
The landslide occurred in the West Bandung area, southeast of the capital Jakarta, where mud and rocks sliding down hills covered entire residential areas, leading to casualties and extensive human and material losses, according to a statement issued by the Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency.
The authorities confirmed that more than 30 houses were completely destroyed after the landslides engulfed residential neighborhoods, while official warnings were issued concerning the risks of floods, landslides, and extreme weather in large areas of the region.
Abdul Mahari, head of communications at the National Search and Rescue Agency, mentioned that emergency teams were able to evacuate about 24 people from the affected area without injuries, while search operations for the missing continue amidst challenging field conditions.
Reports indicated that the landslide hit the village of Pasirlangon at about 2:30 AM local time on Saturday, while images broadcasted by local media showed houses buried under piles of mud and debris, reflecting the magnitude of the disaster.
