AT least 16 people have been confirmed dead and around 80 others remain missing after a landslide accompanied by flash floods struck the Cisarua district in Bandung Barat, West Java, early on Saturday, according to Indonesia’s media reports.
The disaster occurred at about 3am local time when residents reported hearing a loud rumbling noise before a massive flow of earth and mud from Kampung Pasirkuning surged downhill into Kampung Pasir Kuda.
The sudden collapse buried dozens of homes, causing extensive destruction to nearby residential areas.
Search and rescue efforts have been hampered by thick layers of mud and debris, as well as continuing rainfall that has raised concerns over further landslides.
Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency has deployed around 250 trained personnel to locate survivors and recover victims.
The operation involves multiple agencies and is being supported by drones, sniffer dogs and limited use of heavy machinery, as unstable ground conditions restrict large-scale excavation work.
Local authorities have urged residents living near the affected areas to remain vigilant and stay away from landslide-prone zones, warning that saturated soil conditions could trigger secondary disasters.
Indonesia is highly vulnerable to landslides and flash floods, particularly during the rainy season, when prolonged rainfall weakens soil structures in hilly and mountainous regions. - January 26, 2026
