Indonesian marines among 80 missing after deadly landslide in West Java

A massive landslide triggered by days of heavy rainfall has devastated Pasir Langu village on the slopes of Mount Burangrang in Indonesia’s West Java province, leaving at least 34 people confirmed dead and dozens still missing, officials said.

The landslide struck before dawn on Saturday when rain-soaked soil collapsed, sending mud, rocks and uprooted trees rushing down the mountainside. The debris buried at least 34 houses and engulfed a marine training camp where personnel were stationed.

Search and rescue operations have been scaled up to more than 2,000 personnel , including teams from the national search and rescue agency, the military, police and volunteers. Rescuers are using excavators, water pumps, drones and search dogs , but efforts remain slow due to persistent rain, unstable ground and narrow access roads.

Authorities said at least 32 people remain unaccounted for as operations continue under hazardous conditions. Among the missing are members of Indonesia’s elite marine corps , raising concerns over the safety of personnel deployed in the area.

Navy officials confirmed that 23 marines were affected by the landslide , with four marines among the confirmed dead so far. The remaining members of the unit are still missing. The marines were training for a long-duration border deployment along the Indonesia–Papua New Guinea frontier when the disaster struck.

Officials said identification efforts are ongoing, with several bodies still awaiting formal confirmation. Police clarified that earlier reports citing more than 100 missing people were misinterpreted , as they reflected names submitted by families for identification rather than confirmed missing victims.

Rescue officials said the landslide stretched more than two kilometres , with mud reaching depths of up to eight metres in some areas, making excavation extremely difficult. For safety reasons, search operations are suspended during the night.

As a precaution, about 230 residents have been evacuated from nearby areas to government-run shelters. Local authorities have declared an emergency response period to better coordinate rescue, relief and recovery efforts.

Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to landslides during the rainy season from October to April, when heavy rainfall, steep terrain and densely populated mountain settlements frequently combine to trigger deadly disasters across the archipelago.