Indonesia Landslide Death Toll Rises to 34 as Rain Hampers Rescue Efforts
Indonesian authorities report rescue operations for 32 missing people have been disrupted by rainfall as the landslide death toll has risen to 34.
The landslide struck early Saturday morning in Pasir Lango village in the Bandung Barat district, located in a mountainous area approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Jakarta.
Indonesia’s disaster management agency stated that rain fell at the landslide site Wednesday morning, forcing rescue teams to wait for suitable conditions to continue operations.
Indonesia is highly vulnerable to natural disasters due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its tropical climate bringing intense seasonal monsoons. The archipelago nation experiences frequent landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, with poor communities in mountainous areas facing the greatest risk from unstable slopes during heavy rainfall.
Climate change has intensified rainfall patterns across Southeast Asia, leading to more frequent and severe flooding and landslides in Indonesia. Deforestation and unregulated hillside development have further increased landslide risks, particularly in densely populated areas where families build homes on unstable terrain due to lack of affordable housing alternatives.
The death toll has increased from 20 to 34, while 23 people have survived the disaster and been rescued from the debris.
The Indonesian Navy announced Tuesday that 23 soldiers died during a border patrol training exercise, though it remains unclear if these casualties are included.
Rescue teams remain on standby awaiting weather improvements to resume searching for the 32 people still missing beneath the landslide debris.
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