At least 23 soldiers have been confirmed dead following a devastating landslide in Indonesia’s West Java province. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Pasir Langu village, approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Jakarta. The landslide, triggered by heavy rains that began the previous day, caught the soldiers during training exercises for border patrols between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
First Admiral Tunggul, a spokesperson for the Navy, reported that the soldiers were involved in routine training when extreme weather caused the landslide at their location. “The incident occurred due to extreme weather conditions with heavy rainfall, which caused a landslide at the training site,” Tunggul stated.
As the situation unfolded, the death toll from the landslides rose to 23, with the Indonesian disaster mitigation agency confirming casualties as of Tuesday afternoon. According to Abdul Muhari, a representative from the agency, the number of missing individuals currently stands at 42. It remains unclear whether the soldiers are included in this count.
Rescue Efforts Underway
In response to the disaster, approximately 800 rescuers have been deployed to the affected area. This includes military and police personnel, along with nine excavators to assist in recovery operations. The rescue teams aim to locate those still unaccounted for, while 685 residents of the impacted village have been evacuated to local government buildings for their safety.
The landslide occurred during the peak of the wet season on Java island, which has seen heavy flooding in recent weeks. Last week, several areas, including Jakarta and parts of West Java and Central Java, experienced significant flooding.
This tragic event comes just two months after cyclone-induced floods and landslides on the island of Sumatra resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, displacing over a million residents and destroying numerous homes. The ongoing weather challenges highlight the vulnerability of Indonesia to natural disasters, particularly during extreme weather conditions.
As rescue operations continue, the nation mourns the loss of those who tragically perished while serving their country.
