At least 19 people have died following a devastating landslide in the Kasimpar village near Pekalongan city, Central Java province, Indonesia. Triggered by intense rainfall, the disaster struck on Monday, leading to a frantic search for survivors. Rescuers discovered two more bodies on Wednesday morning, raising the death toll to 19, confirmed Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
The landslide occurred in a mountainous area that witnessed heavy downpours, causing chaos as the debris engulfed bridges, buried cars, and demolished houses. The worst-hit area was Kasimpar village, where terrified survivors recounted the nightmare of the landslide crashing into a local coffee shop.
"Suddenly there was a sound of an explosion from inside the cafe. So the land exploded. Suddenly it all destroyed, everything in the cafe was rolled up," said Nasiri, a witness to the horrifying event.
In response to the calamity, the local government declared an emergency in the district for two weeks, prioritizing rescue operations. The focus of these efforts remains firmly on searching for victims amidst the wreckage. Mohammad Yulian Akbar emphasized this priority by stating:
"The focus is to search for the victims."
To facilitate these efforts, heavy machinery has been deployed to clear road access for search teams. Around 200 rescue personnel, including police officers, soldiers, and volunteers, have joined forces in the search operation located approximately 90 km west of Semarang city.
The weather forecast over the next three days predicts moderate rain, posing additional risks of floods, flash floods, and further landslides. This forecast heightens the urgency of rescue missions as they race against time and nature’s unpredictability.
In November, similar weather conditions caused flooding in western Indonesia, resulting in 27 fatalities. This recent landslide underscores the ongoing vulnerability of regions within Indonesia to natural disasters fueled by extreme weather patterns.
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