Sudden floods and landslides on Indonesia’s Java Island have claimed 16 lives, with 9 others missing, authorities reported on Tuesday. Rescue teams recovered the bodies of 16 victims during relief operations, who were swept away by the unexpected floods in villages located in the mountainous region of Java Island. The bodies were found buried under debris and rocks. Authorities also confirmed that 9 people are still missing due to the floods and landslides.
Heavy rainfall caused flooding in rivers, which affected nine villages in the Pekalongan Regency of Central Java province, according to local disaster management agency head Burgas Caturasari. The floods were triggered by intense rainfall on Monday. During this event, soil and rocks slid down from the mountain slopes in the hilly areas, and several trees were uprooted. Rescue teams have recovered at least 16 bodies from the hardest-hit Petungkriono village by Tuesday, while the search continues for the missing villagers.
Caturasari reported that 10 injured individuals managed to escape the disaster-stricken area and were taken to nearby hospitals. The seasonal rains, which occur from October to March, often lead to floods and landslides in Indonesia. The country, an archipelago of 17,000 islands, is home to millions of people living near mountainous regions or flood-prone lowlands.
