A devastating landslide on the main road connecting Pekalongan to the Dieng plateau in Central Java claimed at least 25 lives, authorities confirmed. Torrential rains triggered the landslide on Tuesday, impacting one of Java island's key routes. Hundreds of rescuers were immediately deployed to the site, but challenging weather conditions have forced them to suspend their search efforts temporarily.
The city of Pekalongan experienced relentless rainfall, leading to treacherous conditions. Rescue teams faced significant hurdles as the road to the landslide site became inaccessible. Rescuers had little choice but to trek approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) on foot to reach the disaster zone. Despite these challenges, they managed to recover 17 bodies initially, with three more found before operations were paused, bringing the death toll to 25.
Efforts to locate any remaining survivors faced further setbacks due to heavy rain and dense fog. Zulhawari Agustianto, the spokesperson for the local rescuers, reported that bad weather necessitated the suspension of search activities on Friday. Authorities decided to seed clouds with salt in an attempt to mitigate further rainfall in the region.
Central Java, located on Indonesia's most densely populated island, has been grappling with severe weather patterns. The landslide incident underscores the vulnerability of infrastructure and communities in such regions to natural disasters. The rescue operations, although paused, highlight the dedication and urgency with which teams are working to bring closure to affected families.
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