The death toll from a large landslide in Indonesia’s West Java province has climbed to 17, with dozens of people still missing, officials said on Monday.
The landslide struck the village of Pasirlangu in the West Bandung region early Saturday after heavy rainfall triggered a surge of mud and debris. Homes were buried, forcing residents to flee the area.
According to Indonesia’s national disaster agency, at least 73 people remain unaccounted for. More than 50 houses were badly damaged, while over 650 residents have been displaced.
Rescue teams are using heavy machinery and manual digging to search the site near Mount Burangrang. Operations are moving slowly due to unstable soil and the risk of further landslides amid ongoing rain.
Officials said safety concerns remain high for rescue workers as weather conditions continue to worsen in the area.
Authorities have linked the disaster to environmental factors, including deforestation and land use changes. West Java’s governor said large plantation areas around the village increased the risk and announced plans to relocate affected residents.
Indonesia frequently experiences floods and landslides during the rainy season, which runs from October to March. Similar disasters earlier this month claimed lives in other parts of the country.
