Cilacap: The death toll from landslides in two regions of Indonesia's Central Java rose to 30 as rescue efforts continued, the country's disaster mitigation agency said on Friday. Some 21 people remain missing after landslides triggered by torrential rain struck the city of Cilacap last week and the Banjarnegara region over the weekend, the agency said.
According to Emirates News Agency, rescuers found seven more bodies in Banjarnegara, the worst-affected area, on Thursday. This discovery brought the death toll in Banjarnegara to 10, with 18 individuals still missing, as reported by Abdul Muhari, the agency's spokesperson in a statement late on Thursday. The landslide in this area resulted in dozens of houses being damaged, seven people injured, and more than 900 residents evacuated.
In Cilacap, rescuers discovered four additional bodies this week, increasing the death toll to 20, with three people still unaccounted for, as per Muhari's statement. Authorities have decided to extend search operations in this region until next week, with nearly 400 residents evacuated for safety.
Indonesia's wet season, which began in September, will continue until April, according to the weather agency. This season increases the risk of floods and extreme rainfall in many areas, posing ongoing challenges for the affected regions.
Source: Emirates News Agency