Death toll from Indonesia landslide rises to 38
Indonesian authorities announced on Wednesday that the death toll from the landslide that struck West Bandung in Java last Saturday has risen to 38, while rescue teams are still racing against time to search for dozens of missing people under the rubble and mud.
Details of the disaster and rescue efforts
Adi Dian Permana, head of the Bandung search and rescue agency, stated in an official statement that field teams had recovered and identified 38 bodies by Wednesday afternoon, while 27 people remained missing. Torrential rains that fell relentlessly had buried homes in two villages located 25 kilometers from Bandung, the country's fourth-largest city, turning the area into a landscape of collapsed earth.
Rescue teams face enormous challenges that hinder their progress, as personnel are forced to move with extreme caution for fear of secondary landslides due to unstable terrain and continued rainfall, making the search for survivors extremely dangerous.
Widespread material and human losses
The damage was not limited to loss of life; it also included the destruction and damage of more than fifty homes, necessitating the evacuation of over 650 residents from the affected area in western Bandung to temporary shelters. In a related development, the Indonesian Navy revealed that landslides also trapped 23 soldiers who were conducting training exercises in the area in preparation for border security missions between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
The geographical and climatic context of disasters in Indonesia
Indonesia, a vast archipelago of over 17,000 islands, is one of the world's most disaster-prone countries. Landslides and floods occur annually, particularly during the monsoon season, which typically runs from October to March. The mountainous terrain of many islands, coupled with the saturation of the soil from heavy rainfall, contributes to the increased likelihood of such tragic events.
Environmental factors and the role of deforestation
This disaster has reignited the debate about the environmental factors that exacerbate natural disasters in the country. The Indonesian government has previously pointed to the negative role played by deforestation and unplanned urban expansion in increasing the risk of floods and landslides. The removal of vegetation leads to a loss of soil cohesion, making it more susceptible to landslides during heavy rainfall.
It is worth noting that Sumatra witnessed similar disasters late last year that resulted in the death of about 1,200 people and the displacement of more than 240,000, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen disaster management and environmental protection strategies to reduce human and material losses in the future.
