Rescue teams are searching for survivors after a landslide in the West Bandung region of Indonesia’s West Java province left at least seven people dead and dozens missing.
The landslide, which occurred in the village of Pasirlangu, southeast of the capital Jakarta, followed days of intense rainfall and destroyed more than 30 homes, burying residential areas and causing fatalities.
According to the Communication Chief of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, Abdul Muhari, the incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, and he confirmed that rescue operations are ongoing.
“A landslide occurred in West Bandung Regency, West Java Province, in the early hours of Saturday, killing seven people,” Muhari said. He added that a dozen people had been evacuated safely and were receiving medical checks. As of 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, dozens of residents were reported safe, while 83 people were still missing.
Following the incident, authorities issued alerts for flooding, landslides, and extreme weather across the broader region.
Floods and landslides are common in Indonesia during the rainy season, which typically runs from October to March. Last year, tropical storms and heavy monsoon rains triggered deadly floods and landslides across South and Southeast Asia, from Sumatra’s rainforests to highland plantations in Sri Lanka. Reports indicate that around 1,200 people died in the Sumatra floods, and over 240,000 were displaced.
Experts have highlighted deforestation as a contributing factor to the severity of such disasters. In response, the Indonesian government recently revoked more than two dozen permits from forestry, mining, and hydroelectric companies in Sumatra.
This latest landslide follows heavy rains earlier this month that caused a flash flood on Siau Island, resulting in at least 16 deaths.
