Jakarta: A landslide triggered by torrential rains on Indonesia's main island of Java has resulted in the deaths of at least eight people and left 82 others missing, as reported by Indonesian authorities. The devastating landslide occurred on Saturday, putting rescue operations in motion as authorities scramble to locate the missing individuals.
According to Kuwait News Agency, rescuers are continuing their search amid challenging field conditions, as stated by the spokesman for the Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency, Abd Muhari. The agency highlighted the difficulties faced by rescue teams due to the harsh terrain and weather conditions.
Abd Muhari noted that many residents managed to flee the disaster, while others are feared to be trapped under the mud and debris. The landslide affected two villages in the West Bandung district of West Java province, where numerous homes were buried by the landslide's mass of mud and rocks, following heavy rains overnight.
The incident is reminiscent of a similar disaster last January, when over 20 people lost their lives in floods and landslides caused by torrential rains in Central Java province. The frequency of such events raises concerns about the impact of severe weather on the region and the preparedness of local authorities to handle such natural disasters.