A devastating landslide triggered by heavy rain has claimed 19 lives in Indonesia’s Central Java province, with rescue operations ongoing in the Pekalongan region. The disaster struck Tuesday along a main road connecting the city to the tourist destination of Dieng plateau.
The impact was severe, with local media showing extensive damage as houses and rice fields disappeared under mud, rubble, and rocks. Rescue efforts faced significant challenges, as teams had to trek four kilometers to reach the site due to blocked road access.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), confirmed that two additional bodies were recovered Wednesday morning, bringing the total death toll to 19. The search and rescue agency Basarnas reported 13 people were injured in the incident.
Local official Mohammad Yulian Akbar said approximately 200 rescue personnel have been deployed, along with heavy machinery to clear the blocked roads. The local government has declared a two-week emergency in the district. Rescue teams were seen carrying victims in body bags using bamboo stretchers through thick fog.
The disaster agency has issued warnings about potential additional landslides and flash floods due to expected rainfall in the coming days. While Indonesia typically experiences landslides during its rainy season between November and April, recent years have seen weather-related disasters occurring outside this traditional period. A similar incident in December resulted in 10 deaths from flash floods in Java’s hilly villages.
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