Landslide in Indonesia’s West Java leaves eight dead, dozens missing

A predawn landslide triggered by days of torrential rain killed at least eight people and left 82 others missing in Indonesia’s West Bandung district on Saturday, as rescuers battled deep mud and unstable ground in search of survivors.

The landslide struck around 3 am in Pasir Langu village after rivers overflowed and rain-soaked soil collapsed from the slopes of Mount Burangrang, sending mud, rocks and uprooted trees into residential areas. At least 34 houses were buried in the hamlet of Pasir Kuning. Twenty-three residents have been rescued alive so far, with 113 people affected by the disaster, officials said.

“Unstable soil and heavy rain continue to complicate search and rescue operations,” said Teten Ali Mungku Engkun, head of West Java’s Disaster Management Office. He said rescuers were forced to work mostly by hand as heavy machinery could not safely access the site.

Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency , said many of the missing were believed to be trapped beneath thick layers of mud and debris, while joint teams from the National Search and Rescue Agency, police and the military continued operations.

Families living within 100 metres of the landslide zone were evacuated due to the risk of further slope failures. West Bandung Regent Jeje Ritchie Ismail declared an emergency disaster status, saying the move was needed because “the number of victims is quite large”.

Around 400 displaced residents are sheltering at evacuation centres, with authorities urging people in landslide-prone areas to evacuate immediately if they notice soil movement or hear rumbling sounds.

The affected area is estimated to cover about 30 hectares, making it one of the most serious recent landslides in West Java, though not among Indonesia’s deadliest disasters.Indonesia frequently experiences heavy rainfall during its October-to-April rainy season, when floods and landslides are common, particularly in mountainous regions.

In December, floods and landslides in Sumatra killed more than 1,200 people, while similar disasters claimed over 20 lives in Central Java last January