Post by : Rameen Ariff

A devastating landslide struck three villages in Cilacap district, Central Java, Indonesia, on Thursday night, killing two people and leaving at least 21 others missing, officials confirmed on Friday. The disaster buried and damaged multiple homes, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation.

Abdul Muhari, spokesman for Indonesia’s national disaster agency, reported that 23 residents were rescued alive from the debris. “As of Friday morning, the joint team has rescued 23 people alive. Two people were found deceased, and 21 others are still being searched for,” he said.

Rescue teams are working under challenging conditions, as unstable terrain has slowed efforts to reach the missing. Heavy equipment has been deployed to aid the operation and improve access to areas buried by the landslide.

The landslide occurred amid ongoing extreme weather warnings issued earlier this week by Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency. Authorities cautioned that heavy rainfall could trigger hydrometeorological disasters across several regions of the country in the coming weeks.

Indonesia’s annual monsoon season, which typically spans November to April, is often associated with landslides, flash floods, and water-borne illnesses. Experts warn that climate change has intensified the season, resulting in heavier rainfall, flash floods, and stronger wind gusts, increasing the risk of natural disasters.

This is not the first recent disaster in Indonesia. Earlier this month, flash floods and landslides in Papua claimed at least 15 lives and left eight people missing, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of the region to extreme weather events.

Authorities continue to monitor conditions and have urged residents in high-risk areas to remain vigilant. The national disaster agency has pledged full support to affected communities and vowed to continue search efforts until all missing residents are accounted for.

#world news #Global News