5-Metre Cliff Landslide in Garut Blocks Provincial Road Access

Heavy rains across various regions have caused a 5-metre-high cliff to collapse, burying the Garut-Pameungpeuk main road in Kampung Cialeuan Gunung Gelap, Desa Mekarwangi, Kecamatan Cihurip, Garut Regency, West Java. The incident occurred on Wednesday (8/4) and currently, the road access cannot be used by vehicles. Cihurip Police Sector Chief of Garut Police, Iptu Asep Juarna, stated that the high intensity of rain caused a 5-metre-high cliff to landslide, covering the Garut-Pameungpeuk provincial road in West Java, specifically in Kampung Cialeuan Gunung Gelap, Desa Mekarwangi, Kecamatan Cihurip. The incident happened around 16:00 WIB, and in the event, there were no casualties. “A cliff collapsed and covered the West Java provincial road Garut-Pameungpeuk for 10 metres in length, 6 metres in width, with material thickness reaching 1.5 metres. Now, the road connecting Garut Regency to southern Pameungpeuk cannot be passed by motorcycles or cars,” said Cihurip Police Sector Chief, Iptu Asep Juarna, on Wednesday (8/4/2026). According to him, joint personnel from TNI, Polri, BPBD, volunteers, and residents are at the incident site to carry out handling efforts and evacuation of the landslide soil as well as securing the location. However, the landslide soil evacuation process is still waiting for an excavator, and personnel are trying to open the route using hoes and shovels to prevent vehicle queues. “Joint personnel have opened road access and now it can be passed by motorcycles and cars, although using a stop-go system. However, not all landslide material has been evacuated, and drivers must be extra careful when passing because the road conditions are slippery,” he said. According to him, the heavy rains that occurred mean the public should be alert because based on the weather forecast from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), rain will occur in April and impact hydro-meteorological disasters. However, residents must be alert considering that Garut Regency still has many cliffs and unstable soil contours. “We urge the public to be alert in facing various disasters, because there is potential for hydro-meteorological threats in the form of landslides, floods, ground movement, and preparedness efforts need to be increased. We will synergise all parties, both local government, private sector, and residents, to anticipate disasters,” he concluded.