“`html
Indonesia Landslide: Death Toll Reaches 11, Dozens Missing in West Java
At least 11 people have died, adn 79 remain missing after a landslide triggered by torrential rains swept through a village in West Java, Indonesia, on Saturday, January 20, 2024.The disaster occurred before dawn,burying approximately 34 homes in Pasir Langu village,in the Bandung Regency area of West Java province.
Search and Rescue Efforts Hampered
Rescue operations are ongoing, but are being significantly hampered by unstable ground conditions and continued rainfall. Rescuers recovered two additional bodies on Sunday, bringing the confirmed death toll to 11, according to Ade dian Permana of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Reuters. the terrain is described as muddy and unstable, preventing the use of heavy equipment in many areas. Rescuers are relying on hand digging and agricultural tools to search for survivors.
“If the slope doesn’t stabilize, teams are prepared to continue manually,” Permana stated, estimating that mud and debris piles reach up to five meters (16 feet) in height.Some homes are reportedly buried up to their rooftops.
Evacuations and Goverment Response
Around 230 residents living near the landslide area have been evacuated to temporary government shelters. Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited the site on sunday and pledged government action to prevent similar disasters in the future. He urged local authorities in West Java and Bandung Regency to address land conversion in disaster