Hundreds of rescuers were searching through thick mud and debris on Wednesday for survivors of a rain-triggered landslide in Indonesia that killed at least 17 people and left nine others missing. The landslide struck a mountainous area near Pekalongan city in Central Java province on Monday, collapsing bridges and burying cars and homes.
According to the Basarnas search and rescue agency, the death toll remained at 17 with nine people still missing and 13 others injured. However, a local official later confirmed that another body had been found, bringing the death toll to 18.
Heavy machinery was deployed to clear road access for the search teams, with around 200 rescuers joining the operation. The local government has declared a two-week emergency in the district. Kasimpar village, where the landslide hit a coffee shop and people taking shelter from the rain, was the worst affected area.
Search efforts, involving police, soldiers, and volunteers, are taking place approximately 90 kilometers west of Semarang. However, rain continues to hinder rescue operations, and heavy rain is forecast for the next three days, which could lead to further floods, flash floods, and landslides.
Indonesia faces regular landslides during its rainy season, typically from November to April, with climate change exacerbating the intensity of storms and adverse weather events. In November, flooding in western Indonesia claimed 27 lives, while in May, flash floods in West Sumatra killed at least 67 people.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences over the tragedy in Indonesia. He conveyed his sorrow over the loss of lives in the landslides and flash floods and offered his condolences to President Prabowo Subianto, the families of the victims, and the people of Indonesia. The Prime Minister also expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with Indonesia in the face of this calamity.
