On Tuesday, January 21, Indonesian officials announced that a landslide occurred in Pekalongan, Northern Central Java, Indonesia. Rescuers have found the bodies of 17 victims who were swept away by flash floods or buried under tons of mud and rocks. Eight people are still missing.
According to reports from the Associated Press, Bergas Catursasi, head of the local disaster management agency, stated that the landslide was triggered by heavy rain in the region since Monday, destroying nine villages in Pekalongan. Mud, rocks, and trees cascaded down from the mountainside villages.
As of Tuesday, rescuers have discovered at least 17 bodies in Petungkriyono village, the hardest-hit area, and are still searching for the reported 8 missing villagers.
Catursasi mentioned that 11 injured individuals have been successfully rescued and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Video footage from the news channel Kompas showed police, soldiers, and rescue workers using excavators, agricultural equipment, or their hands to search through the rubble, looking for victims in the affected villages.
Catursasi stated, “Harsh weather conditions, mudslides, and rugged terrain are hindering the rescue operation.”
He added that people fishing in the river and seeking shelter from the rain were also swept away by the flash floods.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency, reported that the flash floods swept away villagers and passing vehicles in the disaster area, triggering landslides that buried two houses. The disaster also destroyed two major bridges connecting rural areas to Pekalongan.
Last month, landslides, flash floods, and strong winds in the Sukabumi region of West Java resulted in 12 fatalities.
In November last year, heavy rains in North Sumatra, Indonesia triggered landslides and flash floods, causing 20 deaths and 2 missing persons. A landslide in the area also struck a tourist bus, leading to 9 fatalities.
(This article is based on reports from the Associated Press)