The death toll from a landslide in Indonesia’s West Java province rose to 17 on Monday, the disaster mitigation agency said. Dozens of people remain missing after heavy rains triggered the weekend disaster. More than 30 houses in Pasir Langu village were buried, leaving residents and officials scrambling for rescue efforts.
The landslide hit the hilly residential area in Bandung Barat early on Saturday. Weather authorities had warned of heavy rains that could last another week across West Java and nearby regions. The village is located about 100 kilometers southeast of the capital, Jakarta, making access difficult for emergency teams.
Read more: Rain sets off Indonesia landslide, killing 9 with 34 missing
Seventy-three people are still missing, agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said. Among the trapped were 23 Indonesian navy officers conducting border patrol training at the time. Rescue efforts were hampered by bad weather, smaller landslides, and the inability to bring in heavy equipment.
Flash floods last week also affected West Java and Jakarta, forcing residents to evacuate to higher ground. Officials said drones and heavy machinery are essential for the search but could not operate safely. The ongoing rains continue to threaten additional landslides in the province.
Read more: Rain sets off Indonesia landslide, killing 9 with 34 missing
The disaster follows cyclone-induced floods and landslides in Sumatra two months ago, which killed over 1,200 people. Thousands of homes were destroyed, and more than a million people were displaced. Authorities warned that West Java residents remain at high risk until weather conditions improve.