World
Search for 32 People Missing in Indonesian Landslide Halted by Rain as Death Toll Rises to 34
The landslide hit Pasir Langu village in Bandung Barat region early on Saturday, triggered by heavy rains starting a day earlier.
The search operations for the 32 people still missing after the landslide were hampered by rain on Wednesday morning, according to Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency. The death toll rose to 34, with 23 survivors and another 20 fatalities confirmed. Twenty-three soldiers who were conducting border patrol training had also perished in the landslides.
The village was located in a hilly area of West Java about 100 km (62.14 miles) southeast of Jakarta. “It’s raining at the landslide site this morning, but all rescuers are ready to continue the search at the right timing,” said Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the agency.
Nearly 800 rescue personnel including military and police along with nine excavators have been deployed to find the remaining missing people. At least 700 residents of the stricken village have been evacuated to local government buildings, the agency added.