Hundreds of rescue workers were searching for survivors in thick mud and debris after rain-triggered landslides killed at least 17 people and left nine missing in Indonesia on Wednesday.
Heavy rain triggered landslides in a mountainous region near the city of Paklungan in Central Java province on Monday, collapsing bridges and burying cars and houses.
Search and rescue agency Basarnas said in a statement on Wednesday that the toll of 17 dead, 9 missing and 13 injured has remained unchanged since Tuesday.
But another body was found, said Mohammad Yulian Akbar, a local official AFP After Wednesday, 18 more tolls were given.
Akbar said heavy machinery had been deployed to clear road access for search teams and about 200 rescue personnel had been dispatched to assist.
“The focus is on finding the victims,” ​​he said, adding that the local government had declared a state of emergency in the district for two weeks.
According to a local official, the worst affected area was Kasempar village, where the landslide destroyed a coffee shop and people were trying to escape the rain.
Police, soldiers and volunteers have joined the search, which is about 90 kilometers west of Semarang city. But on Tuesday, these efforts were halted intermittently as heavy rain continued to lash the region.
On Tuesday, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Abdul Mehri warned that the weather forecast for the next three days suggested light rain that “could cause flooding, flash floods and landslides”.
Indonesia’s rainy season is usually between November and April when there is a risk of landslides.
In November, floods caused by heavy rains in western Indonesia killed 27 people.
But in recent years some disasters have occurred outside this season due to adverse weather conditions. Climate change has also increased the intensity of storms, resulting in heavy rains, floods and strong winds.
In May, at least 67 people were killed in floods caused by heavy rains in West Sumatra, which sent a mixture of ash, sand and pebbles from the eruption of Mount Marapi into residential areas.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s condolence
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed grief over the loss of precious lives due to landslides and flash floods in Indonesia.
“It is with deep sadness that I have learned of the tragic landslides and floods that hit the Indonesian island of Java, resulting in the loss of precious lives and the disappearance of some people,” the Prime Minister said. Said on x.
He expressed his condolences to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the families of the victims and the people of Indonesia.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Indonesian government and its people as they responded to the disaster with resilience and courage.
