Java: At least two people have been killed and 21 remain missing after a landslide triggered by days of heavy rainfall struck three villages in Indonesia’s Cilacap district.
Rescue teams are racing against time as unstable terrain and continuous rain complicate search operations. According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the landslide hit dozens of houses, following prolonged downpours across Central Java province.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for BNPB, stated that, “23 people have been rescued alive, while two bodies have been recovered. Twenty-one others are still being searched for.”
Challenging search conditions
Rescue personnel from multiple agencies have been deployed to the affected area, using heavy machinery, extraction tools and manual equipment to clear debris and reach those believed to be buried under collapsed homes. However, shifting soil and unstable ground continue to slow progress.
Footage released by Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency shows responders digging through rubble as they attempt to locate survivors.
Extreme weather worsening disaster risks
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued an extreme weather warning, noting the increased risk of hydrometeorological disasters, including landslides and flash floods. Several regions across the archipelago are expected to see high rainfall in the coming weeks as the monsoon season intensifies.
Indonesia’s monsoon typically runs from October to March, bringing frequent flooding and landslides, particularly in mountainous regions and densely populated floodplains.
Officials say climate change is altering storm patterns, increasing rainfall intensity and extending the duration of wet seasons, factors that contribute to severe flooding, landslides, and stronger wind events.
A series of recent deadly disasters
The incident follows several recent disasters across Indonesia:
- Earlier in November, flash floods and landslides in Papua killed at least 15 people and left eight missing.
- In January, more than 20 residents in Central Java were swept away during torrential rains that led to widespread flooding and landslides.
Authorities have urged residents in high-risk areas to remain vigilant as adverse weather is set to continue into the coming weeks.
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