Indonesian Marines Among Dozens Missing in Devastating West Java Landslide
Nineteen members of Indonesia's elite marine corps are among approximately 80 individuals reported missing following a catastrophic landslide that struck West Java province over the weekend. The disaster has claimed multiple lives and prompted a massive search operation involving thousands of personnel.
Training Exercise Turns to Tragedy
The marines were conducting specialised training in preparation for a long-duration border assignment along the Indonesia–Papua New Guinea frontier when disaster struck. During predawn hours on Saturday, heavy rainfall triggered a massive slope failure that engulfed their camp in Pasir Langu village on the slopes of Mount Burangrang.
National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari confirmed that seventeen people have been confirmed dead, with eleven identified and six others undergoing identification procedures. Among the deceased are four marines, according to navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali.
Massive Rescue Operation Underway
Rescue efforts have escalated dramatically, with personnel increasing from 500 to 2,100 as teams battle challenging conditions. Operation director of the National Search and Rescue Agency Yudhi Bramantyo described the scene as rescuers dig through tons of mud, rocks, and uprooted trees across a landslide area stretching more than two kilometres.
"In some places the mud reached up to eight metres deep," Bramantyo stated, highlighting the immense scale of the disaster. The rescue operation employs a combination of bare hands, water pumps, drones, and excavators, though heavy machinery has struggled to access the remote site due to narrow roads and unstable ground conditions.
Geographical Challenges Compound Disaster
The landslide not only buried the marine training area but also swept away approximately thirty-four houses in the village. About 230 residents living near the disaster site have been evacuated to government shelters as a precautionary measure.
Admiral Ali explained that "heavy rain over two nights triggered the slope failure that buried their training area," noting the particular vulnerability of the region during Indonesia's rainy season. The archipelago nation, comprising more than 17,000 islands, experiences frequent flooding and landslides between October and April when seasonal rains combine with high tides.
Millions of Indonesians live in mountainous regions or near fertile flood plains, making them particularly susceptible to such natural disasters. The current tragedy underscores the ongoing challenges faced by both military personnel and civilians in these geographically vulnerable areas.
As identification processes continue and search efforts intensify, authorities remain focused on locating the missing individuals while providing support to displaced residents. The marine unit involved in the incident consisted of twenty-three members, with the majority currently unaccounted for as rescue teams work against time and difficult conditions.
