The death toll from a landslide in Indonesia’s West Bandung region has risen to 17, authorities said on Monday, as rescue teams entered a third day of operations.
The disaster struck early on Saturday morning, when heavy rains triggered a landslide that crashed into a village, burying homes under debris and forcing dozens of residents to evacuate.
“The death toll from the landslide in West Bandung has reached 17 people,” National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Abdul Muhari said in a statement on Monday. He did not provide an update on the number of missing, which stood at around 80 as of Sunday.
Indonesian Navy Chief Muhammad Ali revealed that 23 navy officers were among those trapped. The officers were conducting border patrol training when the landslide struck. Heavy equipment has so far been unable to reach the disaster zone due to poor weather conditions, he added.
Rescuers are proceeding with caution, fearing additional landslides caused by unstable terrain and ongoing rainfall. “What we worry about most is the risk of subsequent landslides. Sometimes when we’re in the operation, we aren’t focusing on the slopes that still have the potential for landslides,” said rescuer Rifaldi Ashabi, 25.
Thousands of personnel are involved in the ongoing rescue efforts, according to Yudhi Bramantyo, operations director of the National Search and Rescue Agency. Teams are using manual excavation alongside heavy machinery where possible to locate survivors and victims.
This latest tragedy follows a series of deadly natural disasters in Indonesia. Late last year, floods and landslides in parts of Sumatra claimed around 1,200 lives. Earlier this month, torrential rains on Siau Island caused flash floods that killed at least 16 people.
Such disasters are common during Indonesia’s rainy season, which runs from October to March, leaving the country’s mountainous regions particularly vulnerable to landslides and flooding. Authorities continue to urge residents in high-risk areas to remain vigilant and follow evacuation directives.
