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Indonesia: 34 Dead in Landslide – Number of Missing Unknown

Published January 28, 2026, 07:14
Indonesia: 34 Dead in Landslide – Number of Missing Unknown

The death toll from the landslide near Bandung, Indonesia, has risen to 34, while the number of missing remains unclear but is estimated at least 32. The disaster was caused by torrential rains that buried homes in two mountainous villages with massive amounts of mud and debris. Rescue efforts are ongoing but hampered by unstable ground and continued rainfall, forcing teams to move with extreme caution and, in some cases, dig only with their hands. Over 50 homes have been completely destroyed or damaged, and more than 650 people have been evacuated from the villages. Local authorities fear the number of missing is much higher than reported, as initial estimates indicated 73 missing persons. The head of the regional government in West Java attributed the disaster to extensive plantations in the area and promised to relocate residents to safer locations. Landslides and floods are common occurrences in Indonesia during the rainy season. In November, floods in Sumatra province caused approximately 1,200 deaths, while ecologists and the government have highlighted the role of deforestation in such disasters.