At Least 18 Dead and Dozens Missing After Heavy-Rain Landslides Devastate Central Java
At least 18 people have died and dozens remain missing after heavy rains triggered multiple landslides in Indonesia's Central Java province, authorities and news agencies reported.
The deadliest event struck Cibeunying village in Cilacap city, where officials confirmed on Monday, Nov. 17 that 16 people were killed when a landslide buried several homes. A separate landslide in Banjarnegara on Saturday, Nov. 15, killed two people and left many unaccounted for, according to Reuters and The Jakarta Post.
Search-and-rescue teams say recovery has been slow and technically challenging because some victims were buried under debris between about 10 and 25 feet deep. Basarnas Cilacap — the regional search-and-rescue agency — reported that operations in Cilacap entered a fifth day, and the local disaster management office (BPBD) and teams have shared regular updates and video from the field on social media.
Muhamad Abdullah, head of the local search-and-rescue division, told reporters that at least seven people remain missing after the Cilacap slide. He said teams are using thermal drones, tracking dogs, water pumps (referred to locally as "alcon"), manual and mechanical extrication techniques, and heavy equipment to reach and recover victims.
Officials also said the national disaster agency (BNPB) conducted weather-modification efforts near the disaster sites; rainfall briefly eased in the area afterward, which rescue coordinators hoped would help operations. The country's wet season, which began in September and typically runs through April, increases the risk of extreme rainfall and hydrometeorological disasters across many regions of Indonesia.
In Banjarnegara, disaster authorities reported that as many as 27 people were unaccounted for and that roughly 30 houses and nearby farmland were damaged by the slide. Local teams continue recovery and damage assessments in both Cilacap and Banjarnegara as they search for missing residents and support affected communities.
Note: Reports cited include local authorities and international outlets such as Reuters and The Jakarta Post. Local agencies — Basarnas Cilacap and BPBD — have been providing updates on social platforms while rescue operations continue.
