Indonesia landslides kill at least 11, scores missing

Gulf Today Report

Landslides caused by heavy rain in western Indonesia killed 11 and injured 18, and scores more were missing in the West Java province, authorities said on Sunday.

The Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) said on Sunday that torrential rains triggered the disaster on Saturday evening in the town of Sumedang, where a second landslide buried residents and a rescue team that had been searching for the initial victims.

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The landslides at Cihanjuang Village in West Java, about 150 km (95 miles) southeast of the capital Jakarta, took place at 4pm (0900 GMT) and 7:30pm on Saturday, BNPB spokesman Raditya Jati said in a statement.

Rescuers search for survivors after two landslides in Sumedang on Sunday. AFP

Bandung rescue agency spokeswoman Seni Wulandari said, "We're still documenting how many are missing after the second landslide because there were many people who joined the original rescue effort," she said.

At least one survivor was seriously injured, while 11 people were confirmed dead, Wulandari said.

President Joko Widodo in October warned Indonesia that heavy rains from the La Nina weather system could trigger flooding and landslides, and affect the nation's agricultural output.

In September last year, at least 11 people were killed in landslides on Borneo island while a few months earlier, landslides in Sulawesi killed dozens.