Indonesian rescuers have recovered ten bodies after torrential rains triggered landslides and flash floods on Java island. Two people remain missing as search efforts continue in the hardest-hit areas.
The severe weather, which began last week, caused rivers to overflow, inundating more than 170 villages in Sukabumi district of West Java province. Mud, rocks, and trees swept down mountainsides, devastating the communities below.
“Landslides, flash floods, and strong winds have devastated 172 villages, forcing over 3,000 people to evacuate to temporary shelters,” said Lt. Col. Yudi Hariyanto, head of the rescue command post in Sukabumi. Authorities have issued evacuation warnings to nearly 1,000 residents, with over 400 homes threatened by the ongoing extreme weather.
The disasters have destroyed 31 bridges, 81 roads, and 539 hectares of rice fields. Floodwaters have submerged 1,170 houses up to the roofs, while more than 3,300 other homes and buildings have been damaged.
Rescue teams have been working tirelessly, pulling ten bodies from the worst-hit villages of Tegalbuleud, Simpenan, and Ciemas. Among the victims are three children. Efforts are ongoing to locate the two villagers still reported missing.
Footage shared on social media reveals the scale of the devastation, showing torrents of muddy water sweeping away cars, motorbikes, and livestock. Roads have been transformed into raging rivers, and villages lie buried under thick layers of mud and debris.
Indonesia frequently experiences flooding and landslides during the rainy season from October to March. Millions live in mountainous areas and near fertile flood plains, making them vulnerable to such disasters.
Last month, heavy rains in North Sumatra province triggered a landslide and flash floods that left 20 people dead and two missing. A landslide also struck a tourist bus in the region, resulting in nine fatalities.
