The West Bandung landslide has killed at least seven people and left dozens missing after a torrent of mud, water and debris swept through a village in Indonesia’s West Java province, triggering a major search and rescue operation as authorities warn the death toll may rise.
The disaster struck Pasirlangu village in the West Bandung region during the early hours of Saturday morning, when residents were asleep in their homes.
Local officials said heavy rainfall caused unstable soil on the slopes of Mount Burangrang to collapse, sending a powerful flow of mud and floodwater into residential areas.
Emergency services confirmed that at least seven bodies have been recovered, while more than 80 people are still unaccounted for. Rescue teams are racing against time, using heavy equipment and manual digging in difficult terrain as fears grow that more victims may be trapped beneath the debris.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, said the scale of the West Bandung landslide was severe and search efforts were being intensified.
He said the number of missing people remained high and rescuers were working to optimise operations despite continuing rain and unstable ground.
According to local media reports, the landslide occurred at around 2am local time, following hours of intense rainfall. A mixture of loose soil, rocks and water rushed downhill with immense force, striking approximately 30 homes and burying large sections of the village.
Residents who survived described hearing a loud rumbling noise moments before the landslide struck. Some managed to flee their homes in the darkness, while others were swept away by the sudden surge of mud and floodwater.
Local police chief AY Yogaswara said the landslide was accompanied by flash flooding, worsening the destruction. He said emergency responders from the military, regional disaster agencies, police, volunteers and local communities had been mobilised to assist with rescue and evacuation efforts.
Authorities estimate that the affected area covers roughly 30 hectares, with roads, farmland and houses damaged or destroyed. Heavy machinery has been deployed, but progress remains slow due to saturated soil and the risk of further landslides.
As a precaution, local officials ordered the evacuation of residents living in nearby areas known to be vulnerable to landslides.
Temporary shelters have been set up to accommodate displaced families, many of whom lost their homes and belongings overnight.
Indonesia’s meteorological agency had issued warnings of extreme weather in West Java province, forecasting heavy rainfall for several days.
Officials said persistent rain significantly increased the risk of landslides, particularly in hilly and mountainous regions such as West Bandung.
The West Bandung landslide comes amid widespread flooding across parts of Java. In Karawang regency, overflowing rivers inundated dozens of sub-districts, forcing residents living near riverbanks to evacuate. Floodwaters were also reported in parts of East Jakarta, where hundreds of people fled their homes.
Saturday’s disaster follows a series of deadly floods and landslides that struck Indonesia late last year, killing more than 1,100 people across several provinces, including North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh. Those disasters were among the deadliest natural events in the country’s recent history.
In the aftermath of last month’s floods, the Indonesian government filed lawsuits against six companies accused of environmental degradation, which authorities believe contributed to the scale of destruction.
Officials have repeatedly warned that deforestation and poor land management worsen the impact of extreme weather events.
Environmental experts say Indonesia faces growing disaster risks due to climate change, deforestation and rapid development in vulnerable areas. Heavy rainfall events have become more frequent and intense, increasing the likelihood of floods and landslides across the archipelago.
Indonesia, which sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences a tropical climate, is particularly prone to natural disasters. Seasonal rains regularly trigger floods and landslides, especially in densely populated regions where hillsides have been cleared for agriculture or housing.
Rescue teams in West Bandung continue to search for survivors, despite the challenges posed by ongoing rain and unstable ground. Authorities say operations will continue around the clock, though hopes of finding survivors diminish with each passing hour.
Government officials urged residents to remain vigilant and heed evacuation orders as weather conditions remain unpredictable.
They also called for long-term measures to reduce disaster risks, including improved land-use planning and reforestation efforts.
As Indonesia mourns the victims of the West Bandung landslide, communities across the country remain on alert, bracing for further extreme weather during the peak of the rainy season.
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