JAKARTA, Indonesia — On Wednesday, Indonesian rescue teams recovered two more bodies as they continued their search for individuals who remained unaccounted for following severe floods and landslides on the island of Java. This tragic finding increased the confirmed death toll to 19.
The flooding was caused by overflowing rivers, which devastated nine villages in Pekalongan regency located in Central Java province. Torrential rains on Monday triggered landslides that affected communities situated on mountainsides.
Images and videos shared by the National Search and Rescue Agency depicted rescue workers diligently digging through areas where roads and terraced rice fields had transformed into thick, muddy expanses, burying homes under layers of mud, rocks, and uprooted trees.
National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari reported that the flooding led to a landslide that encased two houses and a café in the Petungkriyono resort zone. The collective impact of these disasters resulted in the destruction of 25 homes, a dam, and three key bridges that connected various villages within Pekalongan. Furthermore, at least 13 individuals sustained injuries and nearly 300 were displaced, finding refuge in temporary government shelters.
Adverse weather conditions, including significant rainfall and thick fog, caused delays in the search and rescue operations, halting efforts on Tuesday. The tumultuous weather complicated access to affected areas along the rivers, rendering them hazardous for rescue personnel.
Rescue teams resumed their search efforts on Wednesday, focusing on rivers and debris in the most affected villages, particularly in Kasimpar village. Budiono, who leads a local rescue division, noted that teams were particularly attentive to locating any survivors.
Amidst their search, rescuers discovered two mud-covered bodies in the Petungkriyono region, which had experienced heavy mudslides that previously annihilated two houses and a café. Efforts continue as rescuers strive to locate seven individuals still reported as missing.
Flooding and landslides have also been documented in various other provinces. In Denpasar, on the popular tourist island of Bali, a landslide affected five houses, leading to four fatalities and leaving one person missing.
In Indonesia, the heavy seasonal rains that occur annually from October to March increase the risk of flooding and landslides, especially in this archipelago of 17,000 islands where many communities are located in mountainous terrains or along fertile flood-prone areas.
According to the British Geological Survey, a landslide constitutes the movement of a mass of material such as rock, earth, or debris down a slope. They can manifest either suddenly or gradually, often instigated by rainfall, erosion, or changes to the composition of the slope’s materials.
The saturation of soil from rainfall contributes to slope instability. Factors such as steepness, erosion, proximity to water bodies, and vibrations from external forces like earthquakes can further elevate the risk of landslides. Research indicates that the frequency of such disasters may intensify in conjunction with climate change, leading to increased rainfall patterns.
