MENA Newswire, JAKARTA: The death toll from a landslide in Indonesia’s West Java province has risen to 50, police said Wednesday, as rescuers continued searching for dozens of missing people in steep terrain hit by days of heavy rain. The landslide struck before dawn on Saturday, January 24, in Pasir Langu village in the Cisarua area of West Bandung Regency, about 100 kilometers southeast of Jakarta. Saturated hillsides gave way, sending mud, rocks and uprooted trees into residential areas and burying homes while many residents were asleep.
Police said 33 people remain missing. Disaster victim identification teams have been working to confirm identities as bodies are recovered and transferred for forensic processing. Officials said weather and ground instability have complicated recovery efforts and forced teams to pause operations at times for safety.
Search and rescue crews have deployed heavy equipment and large numbers of personnel to clear debris and reach suspected burial sites. Authorities have said hundreds of responders from the military, police and emergency services have been involved, supported by excavators and other machinery, while local volunteers have assisted on the ground.
Search operations slowed by weather
Rescuers have faced renewed rainfall and the risk of additional slope failures, limiting the use of equipment and slowing digging in some areas. Officials have said the priority remains locating survivors and recovering bodies while preventing injuries among rescue workers in unstable soil conditions.
The landslide damaged or buried dozens of houses and disrupted access roads in the hilly district, prompting evacuations to government facilities. Authorities have reported that hundreds of residents were moved to temporary shelters as assessments continued in nearby neighborhoods and responders checked for additional hazards along the slope.
Marines among the dead
Indonesia’s Navy has confirmed that marine personnel were among the victims after a unit was in the area during a scheduled activity when the hillside collapsed. Officials have reported that 23 marines were killed in connection with the incident, adding to the toll in a disaster that has affected both local residents and security personnel.
Indonesia experiences frequent landslides during the rainy season, particularly in mountainous parts of Java where intense rainfall can saturate soil and destabilize slopes. West Java’s rugged terrain and dense settlements on hillsides can increase the risk of casualties when heavy rain triggers sudden collapses.
Authorities said search operations and victim identification would continue as conditions allow, with updates expected as teams reach more debris pockets and finalize identifications. Officials have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert during periods of prolonged rainfall and to follow evacuation instructions issued by local disaster agencies.