27 people die in four landslides in Banyumas

27 people die in four landslides in Banyumas

BANYUMAS, Central Java (JP): At least 27 people died in
Banyumas regency in four separate landslides late on Sunday night
following two days of incessant rain.

However, authorities are awaiting more information from
Cimanggu district officials, which may see the death toll rise to
32.

Banyumas Police chief Sr. Supt. Carel Risa Kotta told The
Jakarta Post via telephone on Monday evening that the landslides
occurred in Sibalung village in Cimanggu district, Cipari village
in Cipari district, Wanareja village in Wanareja district and
Gancang village in Gumelar district.

"Today we have found 27 bodies from those villages .... We're
still looking for more bodies," Carel said, adding that more
could still be buried beneath the landslides.

All four villages are located on foothills, making them prone
to landslides.

It is not the first time landslides have occurred in the area,
however they have never been this severe.

According to Carel, 13 bodies have been dug up in Sibalung
village, five in Cipari village, three in Wanareja village and
six in Gancang village.

He said 15 officers from the National Police's Mobile Brigade
and members of the local search and rescue team had been
dispatched to Cimanggu district, which has been the most severely
effected area.

According to information from administration officials in
Cimanggu district late on Monday night, another landslide has hit
the area.

Awaluddin confirmed 13 people were missing in Sibalung village
and another five were unaccounted for following a landslide in
Bantarpanjang village.

However, he said "none of the bodies have been found".

Awaluddin told the Post the landslides also caused severe
material damage.

He noted that several other landslides occurred in various
locations but did not result in the loss of life.

He said at least 15 houses in Gancang village and six in
Gumelar village had been damaged.

A landslide in Cibangkong village, Pekuncen district, caused
damage to six houses, but there were no fatalities.

Another landslide occurred on the major artery of Jl. Raya
Wanareja-Majenang, closing the Bandung-Purwokerto route from
Sunday night to Monday afternoon.

At least 200 people from Mulyasari village, Majenang district,
were evacuated from their homes. They lived adjacent to a 30-
meter-high hill which is prone to landslides during the rainy
season.(45)