Landslides kill 18 in Indonesia's Central Java, dozens missing

Indonesian rescue teams are battling against time as the death toll from dual landslides in Central Java province reached 18 people on Monday, with approximately 33 individuals still unaccounted for. The separate disasters struck different areas of the densely populated region, triggering extensive search and recovery operations across multiple locations.

Cilacap Landslide Details

In Cilacap city, the confirmed death count has risen to 16 as search efforts continue into their fifth day. According to local broadcaster Kompas TV, three additional bodies were recovered on Monday, bringing the total fatalities from this single incident. Muhammad Abdullah, the Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, confirmed that seven people remain missing in the Cilacap area as emergency workers continue digging through mud and debris.

Banjarnegara Incident

Meanwhile, in Banjarnegara regency, authorities reported two confirmed fatalities with 26 people potentially buried beneath the soil following a separate landslide that occurred on Saturday. The local head of Indonesia's disaster management agency confirmed the grim statistics as rescue teams worked simultaneously in both affected regions, facing challenging terrain and weather conditions that have complicated recovery efforts.

Ongoing Rescue Operations

The concurrent disasters have stretched emergency response resources across Central Java, one of Indonesia's most populous provinces. The country's disaster-prone archipelago geography makes it particularly vulnerable to landslides, especially during seasonal rainfall patterns. Rescue officials indicate operations will continue indefinitely while there remains hope of finding survivors, though the window for successful rescues diminishes with each passing day.