Jakarta, Indonesia – In the early hours of Saturday morning, a severe landslide struck the Pasir Langu community, located in the West Bandung district of West Java province, resulting in the deaths of at least eight individuals and rendering 82 others missing. The disaster followed several days of intense rainfall which caused rivers to flood and surge beyond their banks.
The rapid onslaught of mud, rocks, and uprooted trees cascaded down the mountain slopes, devastating numerous hillside settlements including the village of Pasir Kuning. Approximately 34 residences were buried beneath the heavy debris, severely impacting the local population.
Rescue personnel and volunteers continued their operations amidst difficult conditions, combing through thick mud and rubble in search of survivors believed to be trapped under the sediment. According to Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency, 24 individuals managed to escape the event, but concerns remain high for the large number still missing.
Broadcast media outlets have shown footage depicting residents and emergency workers digging feverishly to reach those engulfed by the landslide. The affected area, once marked by green terraced rice fields and local roads, has been transformed into a chaotic landscape of brown, viscous mud intertwined with displaced rocks and tree trunks.
Teten Ali Mungku Engkun, director of West Java's Disaster Management Office, noted that the ongoing rainfall and unstable ground are complicating search and rescue efforts further. Immediate damage assessments were conducted by local officials, who activated emergency response teams promptly following the incident.
Families residing within 100 meters of the disaster site were evacuated due to concerns about the potential for additional landslides. Authorities have issued cautions encouraging inhabitants in landslide-prone regions to remain alert and evacuate immediately upon signs of ground movement, audible rumbling, or other indications of danger.
Indonesia regularly experiences seasonal rainfall between October and April, often resulting in flooding and landslides across its archipelago of over 17,000 islands. In December, severe flooding and landslides in Sumatra claimed around 1,200 lives and injured more than 7,000 individuals, according to the National Disaster Management Agency. Furthermore, in January earlier this year, similar weather phenomena in Central Java province led to at least 20 fatalities.