Indonesia landslide kills seven, dozens missing

A landslide in Indonesia’s West Java province has resulted in at least seven fatalities and over 80 people missing, following days of heavy rainfall that triggered the disaster in the early hours of Saturday. The landslide struck the village of Pasirlangu in the West Bandung region, southeast of Jakarta, around 2:30 a.m. local time on January 24, 2026. Torrential rains had saturated the soil, causing mud, rocks, and trees to cascade down mountainside hamlets, burying residential areas. According to Indonesian disaster officials, at least seven people have been confirmed dead, with estimates of the missing ranging from 80 to 82 individuals. The National Disaster Management Agency reported that more than 30 homes were destroyed in the incident. Rescue teams, including the National Search and Rescue Agency, have been deployed to the area but are facing significant challenges due to deep mud, unstable terrain, and ongoing heavy rainfall. Efforts are concentrated on searching for survivors trapped under debris. The landslide was triggered by intense and prolonged rainfall, which is common during Indonesia’s rainy season from October to April. Authorities have issued flooding and landslide alerts for the broader region, urging residents in prone areas to remain vigilant. In response to the disaster, local authorities evacuated 24 people from the affected zone and have advised families within 100 meters of the landslide area to relocate due to fears of further slope failures. Images from the scene show homes completely buried under mud and debris. This event highlights the recurring threat of landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago with mountainous terrain and frequent heavy rains. Just last December, catastrophic floods and landslides in Sumatra killed over 1,200 people, underscoring the vulnerability of such regions. Officials, including Abdul Muhari of the National Disaster Management Agency, have emphasized the complexity of the search and rescue operations. They have called for increased preparedness and immediate evacuation if residents hear rumbling sounds or see soil movement. The ongoing rescue efforts continue as teams work against time to find missing individuals. The disaster has drawn attention to the need for better infrastructure and early warning systems to mitigate such natural hazards in the future.