A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall devastated three villages in Indonesia’s Central Java province on Thursday, burying several homes. Local rescue chief Muhammad Abdullah said 11 bodies had been recovered by Saturday afternoon, while 12 people remained missing. More than 700 rescuers—including military, police, and volunteers—are involved in the search, using excavators and tracking dogs.
Authorities reported that two victims were found on Thursday, one on Friday, and eight more on Saturday. The national weather agency had earlier warned of extreme weather conditions likely to cause landslides and flash floods across Indonesia in the coming weeks.
Indonesia’s monsoon season, which lasts from November to April, frequently brings severe flooding, landslides and disease outbreaks. Officials say climate change is intensifying rainfall and storms, increasing the risk of deadly disasters. Earlier this month, flash floods and landslides in Papua killed at least 15 people.
