Search operations for 32 people still missing after a landslide in West Java were hampered by rain on Wednesday morning, the country’s disaster mitigation agency said, as the death toll rose to 34.
The landslide struck Pasir Langu village in the Bandung Barat region early on Saturday, following heavy rainfall that began the day before. The village is situated in a hilly area about 100 km (62 miles) southeast of Jakarta.
“It’s raining at the landslide site this morning, but all rescuers are ready to continue the search, waiting for the right timing,” agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari told Reuters.
The death toll has risen from 20 to 34, while 23 people survived the disaster. Separately, the Indonesian Navy reported that 23 soldiers were killed during border patrol training, though it was not immediately clear if they are included in the latest count, Muhari said.
Rescue teams are currently working to identify bodies recovered at the scene. At least 800 personnel, including military and police, along with nine excavators, have been deployed to locate the remaining missing.
Nearly 700 residents of Pasir Langu have been evacuated to local government buildings, the agency added.
