Indonesia landslide kills eight, more than 80 missing

Heavy rainfall triggers early-morning disaster

Triggered by heavy rainfall, the landslide struck villages in West Bandung in the early hours, burying residential areas. Floods and landslides are common across Indonesia during the rainy season, which typically runs from October to March.

Survivors describe the terrifying moment

At 2:30 am (1930 GMT Friday), a resident of Pasirlangu village named Oyoh heard a rumbling noise like thunder. She said the rain had been continuous since morning, and the landslide followed shortly after. She was evacuated to the village government office along with dozens of others, mainly women and children. While her house survived, she said her niece, her niece’s husband, and their two children were missing.

Rescue efforts underway amid difficult conditions

Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for the national disaster agency, confirmed that eight people were killed and 82 were unaccounted for. West Bandung’s mayor, Jeje Ritchie Ismail, said the military, police, and volunteers are assisting in the search, but warned that the terrain is extremely difficult and the ground remains unstable. The local search and rescue agency is conducting manual excavation, spraying soil with water pumps, and using drones to locate victims.

Forest loss raises risk of flooding and landslides

The disaster follows last year’s tropical storms and monsoon rains that killed around 1,200 people and displaced more than 240,000 in Sumatra. Environmentalists and experts have pointed to forest loss as a major factor in increasing flood and landslide risk, as forests help absorb rainfall and stabilise soil.

Indonesia’s ongoing environmental challenges

Indonesia lost more than 240,000 hectares of primary forest in 2024, according to analysis by The TreeMap’s Nusantara Atlas project. The country remains one of the highest in annual forest loss due to mining, plantations, and fires. The government has filed lawsuits seeking over $200 million in damages against six firms and has revoked more than two dozen permits from forestry, mining, and hydroelectric companies in Sumatra.

Recent flooding and landslides continue

Earlier this month, torrential rains hit Siau island, causing a flash flood that killed at least 16 people, highlighting the continued threat of extreme weather events in Indonesia.