Hundreds of rescuers are digging through thick mud and debris after a rain-triggered landslide near Pekalongan city, Central Java, left at least 19 dead and seven missing. The disaster, which struck on Monday, destroyed bridges, buried homes, and swept away cars.
Rescue teams, supported by heavy machinery, are focusing their efforts on Kasimpar village, the worst-hit area where a coffee shop sheltering people from the rain was buried. Around 200 personnel, including police, soldiers, and volunteers, are involved in the search operation, which has been hampered by ongoing rainfall.
Authorities have declared a two-week emergency in the district, while weather forecasts predict further moderate rains that may exacerbate the risk of floods and landslides.
Landslides are common in Indonesia during the rainy season, which runs from November to April. Climate change has intensified storms in recent years, increasing the frequency of severe weather-related disasters.
