Rescue efforts launched as Indonesia landslide claims 18 lives, others missing

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In an undated photo released by Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, rescuers search for the victims of flash flood which triggered a landslide, in Pekalongan, Central Java, Indonesia. (AP)

Hundreds of rescuers are working tirelessly through mud and debris after a landslide in Central Java, Indonesia, killed at least 18 people and left nine missing.

The disaster, triggered by intense rainfall in a mountainous area near Pekalongan city, struck Monday, burying homes, cars, and a coffee shop where people sought refuge from the rain.

Search and rescue agency Basarnas reported 17 confirmed deaths as of Tuesday, but local official Mohammad Yulian Akbar later updated the toll to 18 after another body was recovered Wednesday. Nine people remain missing, while 13 others sustained injuries.

Heavy machinery has been deployed to clear roads for rescue teams, and approximately 200 personnel, including police, soldiers, and volunteers, are aiding the search in Kasimpar village, the hardest-hit area. “The focus is to search for the victims,” Akbar said, noting that a two-week emergency has been declared in the district.

Efforts to locate survivors were hampered by ongoing heavy rainfall Tuesday, and moderate rain is forecast for the next three days, posing risks of additional floods and landslides, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Landslides are common during Indonesia’s rainy season, which runs from November to April. However, climate change has intensified weather patterns, leading to disasters even outside the typical season.

In May, flash floods in West Sumatra claimed 67 lives, as debris from Mount Marapi’s eruption swept into residential areas.

Authorities are urging vigilance as rescue operations continue amid challenging weather conditions.

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