Landslides in Central Java Claim 30 Lives as Rescue Operations Persist

Indonesia's central province of Central Java is grappling with the aftermath of devastating landslides, which have claimed 30 lives so far, according to the nation’s disaster mitigation agency. The disasters struck the city of Cilacap last week and Banjarnegara over the weekend, with an additional 24 people reported missing across the two areas.

Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the agency, reported that search teams discovered seven additional bodies in Banjarnegara, the hardest-hit region, on Thursday. This brings the death toll there to 10, with 18 still unaccounted for. The landslides caused extensive damage, destroying numerous homes, injuring seven individuals, and prompting the evacuation of over 900 residents.

"Rescuers, including police and military personnel totaling around 700, are actively searching for missing persons," Muhari stated. "Their efforts are hampered by challenging conditions such as debris-filled landslide ponds, continuous water flow, and the ongoing risk of further landslides due to persistent rains."

In Cilacap, four more bodies were recovered this week, raising the total fatalities to 20, with three people still missing. Nearly 400 individuals have been evacuated to safer locations, and search operations there have been extended into the coming week.

Indonesia is currently in its wet season, which runs from September through April, a time when heavy rainfall increases the likelihood of floods and landslides across the archipelago. Authorities continue to monitor weather conditions closely to mitigate further risks.

The ongoing rescue and relief efforts underscore the severity of the situation as communities work to recover from this natural disaster.