JAKARTA : At least 16 people have been killed and five more are missing after a landslide triggered by heavy rain in Indonesia’s Central Java province, local police and disaster officials said on Tuesday ( Jan 21 ).
” Sixteen persons were confirmed dead. For injured patients, 10 have been referred to hospitals and the nearest group health heart,” Doni Prakoso, police chief in Central Java’s Pekalongan area, told regional broadcaster Metro Television.
He said the flood hit the area on Monday and rescue personnel were trying to find at least five also missing.
” The precipitation in Pekalongan was very great, and the worst affected area… is in a hilly or mountainous location,” Doni said.
Broadcast footage showed participants retrieving a figure from the disaster on a wooden stretcher, with thick dirt covering the roads.
Bergas Catursasi Penanggungan, a Central Java crisis company standard, said the research work had been delayed due to the difficulty of accessing the place.
” Volunteers are in the method of going to the place,” he told broadcaster Kompas TV. ” Time is limited due to the weather, we are racing against the wind. “
He said nearby participants also joined the search work alongside rescue staff, while heavy equipment may be called in to help dig for victims.
” Going forth, for those who are buried under thicker land, we hope for help from large tools,” he said.
Indonesia is liable to landslides during the rainy season, usually between November and April, but some disasters caused by severe weather have taken spot outside that year in recent years.
In November flood triggered by powerful floods in eastern Indonesia killed 27 people.
In May, at least 67 people died after heavy rains caused flash floods in West Sumatra, pushing a mixture of dust, sand and pebbles from the eruption of Mount Marapi washed into private areas.