The death toll from a devastating landslide in Indonesia has risen to 74, authorities said Friday, nearly two weeks after search operations began.
Heavy rain triggered the collapse on January 24 in the West Bandung area of Java, when mud and debris tore through Pasirlangu village, burying dozens of homes and forcing hundreds of residents from their properties.
Thousands of rescuers, supported by police, the military and volunteers, have been combing through the site using both manual digging and heavy machinery. Local search and rescue chief Ade Dian Permana confirmed that 74 victims have now been identified, adding that several residents remain listed as missing.
“Weather conditions remain the main challenge,” Permana said, citing persistent rain and thick fog that continue to undermine visibility and ground stability. He noted that operations are now transitioning from active search to recovery.
The Indonesian Navy reported that 23 personnel who had been training in the area were among those caught in the landslide.
Local officials said around 50 houses were damaged and more than 160 people remain displaced. The government has again pointed to deforestation as a contributing factor to recurring floods and landslides, following similar disasters on Sumatra late last year that killed about 1,200 people and displaced over 240,000.
