ZCZC
BFF-20
INDONESIA-LANDSLIDE-DEATH
Death toll from Indonesia’s landslides rises to 15
JAKARTA, Jan. 2, 2019 (BSS/XINHUA) – Indonesian disaster authorities have
raised the death toll from landslides hitting Indonesia’s West Java province
on Monday to 15, with 20 other people still missing, a government official
said.
Three villagers were injured when the natural disaster devastated Sinaresmi
village of Sukabumi district, spokesman of the National Disaster Management
Agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said late Tuesday night.
Rescuers were trying to recover the victims which are believed to be buried
by soil and rocks along with 30 houses in the village, he said.
However, the spokesman said, rescuers faced the threat of another
landslides during their relief mission.
“Four other small scale landslides occurred. The loose soil texture and
unstable earth conditions have endangered the rescuers particularly when
rains fall,” Sutopo told Xinhua.
One of the two heavy machinery equipment has arrived at the scene to help
the search and rescue mission, he added.
A total of 63 villagers survived the landslides and were taking shelters in
safer places, according to the spokesman.
Heavy downpours were blamed for the deadly disaster striking at 17:00 p.m.
Jakarta time Monday.
Indonesia is frequently stricken by landslides and flash floods during the
rain season.
BSS/XINHUA/GMR/0937 hrs