20 killed, dozens missing in Garut landslides<\/p>\n
Yuli Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Garut, West Java<\/p>\n
At least 20 people have been killed, and dozens of others are
\nmissing and feared dead after landslides triggered by torrential
\nrains swept through three villages in the West Java town of
\nGarut, officials and residents said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The disaster also injured more than 100 people in the villages
\nof Mandalasari, Karangmulya and Karang Tengah in Kadungora
\nsubdistrict as mud and rocks from Mount Mandalawangi buried at
\nleast 121 houses.<\/p>\n
Twelve other homes in Mandalasari were razed by fire as the
\nlandslides knocked over kerosene lamps.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of residents in the affected villages and nearby
\nareas took shelter in schools, mosques and other public
\nbuildings.<\/p>\n
The landslides also cut off railway traffic linking Jakarta to
\ncities in Central and East Java via the southern coast railroad,
\nrailway officials said.<\/p>\n
Police, local residents and rescue workers aided by sniffer
\ndogs used spades and shovels to search for at least 30 other
\npeople feared to be buried under the debris.<\/p>\n
Priangan Police chief Sr. Comr. Tjetjep Lukman said it was
\ndifficult to bring in excavators for the search and rescue
\noperations because the villages were located in an elevated area.<\/p>\n
Residents were asleep when the landslides swept through their
\nhomes at around 2 a.m. early Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Anda, a 60-year old local villager, said the landslides
\nfollowed rains accompanied by lightening, which started at around
\n6 p.m. on Tuesday. This forced locals to stay home, he added.<\/p>\n
As the heavy rains continued until night, thunder sounded
\nalong with cries of "Allahu Akbar...Allahu Akbar (God is great)"
\nat around 10 p.m., he said.<\/p>\n
"The only thing that I thought of at that time was my family's
\nsafety. I don't remember what happened to our household goods
\nsuch as the TV," said Ujang Dedi, 24, another local survivor.<\/p>\n
He and local residents admitted that they had long feared a
\nlandslide would take place in their villages due to deforestation
\non Mount Mandalawangi.<\/p>\n
Rachmat Sudjana, secretary of the Garut administration,
\nclaimed authorities had warned local villagers of possible
\nlandslides.<\/p>\n
But the problem was that the residents refused to leave the
\narea because they had been living there a long time, he added.<\/p>\n
Rescuers said many of the 20 people dead could not be
\nidentified because they sustained serious injuries after being
\nburied by mud and rocks.<\/p>\n
Garut Regent Dede Satibi and other local officials blamed the
\nlandslides on deforestation on Mount Mandalawangi, where illegal
\nlogging continued unchecked.<\/p>\n
Most of the hilly areas have been cleared by villagers to open
\nnew farming plots and plantations, he was quoted by the Antara
\nnews agency as saying.<\/p>\n
Garut Police chief Sr. Comr. Adrianus Tumiwang echoed Dede's
\nremarks, saying illegal logging was rampant.<\/p>\n
"We will summon those responsible for the mountain management
\nto question them over the illegal logging. We will take legal
\naction against them if there is enough evidence," he added.<\/p>\n
Flooding and landslides have killed up to 50 people on several
\nislands across the archipelago since the rainy season began late
\nNovember.<\/p>\n
The worst landslide plagued the East Java town of Mojokerto in
\nDecember when mud and rocks buried Pacet hot springs, a local
\nresort, killing at least 26 people.<\/p>\n
Most of the disasters have been blamed on deforestation due to
\nillegal logging.<\/p>",
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