At least two people have been confirmed dead and more than twenty are missing after a series of devastating landslides struck Indonesia's main island of Java.
Rescue Efforts Amidst Challenging Conditions
The disaster occurred on Thursday evening after several days of heavy rainfall triggered landslides that engulfed dozens of houses across three villages in Central Java province. According to a statement from officials, the national search and rescue operation was immediately mobilised.
National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari confirmed the grim statistics, stating that rescuers are still desperately searching for the 21 individuals reported missing. He emphasised the immense challenges faced by the teams, noting that "the unstable ground conditions posed a challenge for the search and rescue team in searching for victims during the golden hour."
Operation in Full Force
Despite the hazardous environment, the joint rescue team persisted with their efforts, resuming the operation on Friday morning. In a bid to accelerate the process, heavy equipment was deployed to the affected areas.
Footage released by the National Search and Rescue Agency depicted the scale of the operation, with teams employing a combination of heavy machinery, specialised extraction tools, and manual labour to reach victims potentially buried under the rubble of their homes.
This tragic event underscores a recurring seasonal threat for the archipelago nation. Heavy seasonal rain from about October to March frequently leads to fatal flooding and landslides in Indonesia. Millions of its citizens reside in mountainous regions or near fertile floodplains, making them particularly vulnerable.
The province is no stranger to such tragedies. In a grim reminder of the persistent danger, more than 20 residents were killed in a similar event in Central Java this past January, swept away by floods and landslides following torrential rains.
