The death toll from a landslide in Indonesia has risen to 74, authorities confirmed on Friday, nearly two weeks after search operations began.
The disaster was triggered by heavy rainfall on January 24, when a landslide swept through a mountain village in the West Bandung region of Java, burying dozens of homes and forcing hundreds of residents to flee.
Thousands of rescuers, including police, military personnel and volunteers, have been combing through mud and debris using both manual methods and heavy machinery. Local search and rescue officials said all 74 victims have now been identified, though some people are still listed as missing.
“We still have residents on the missing persons list who have not yet been found,” said Ade Dian Permana, head of the local search and rescue agency.
Rescue efforts have been hampered by persistent bad weather, with heavy rain and thick fog reducing visibility and affecting ground stability. Authorities said operations will continue but have now shifted into the recovery phase.
The Indonesian navy confirmed that 23 personnel who were training in the area were among those caught in the landslide in Pasirlangu village. Around 50 homes were damaged, while more than 160 people remain displaced.
Officials have also highlighted deforestation as a contributing factor to landslides and flooding, citing similar disasters on Sumatra last year that claimed about 1,200 lives and displaced over 240,000 people.
