Body of last landslide victim found

BANDUNG: The body of Entang, 60, the last person missing after a landslide swept through Wangonjaya village in Cikalong Wetan subdistrict, Bandung, West Java, was found on Thursday, officials said.

The discovery of the body by rescue workers and local residents brings the death toll from Monday's landslide to nine.

Entang's body was found in the Cisomang River, some seven kilometers from the scene of the landslide, at about 10 a.m. He was taken to the Patrol public cemetery near Cikalong Wetan for burial.

The landslide hit the denuded Patrol Hill, burying eight of 16 houses on the slopes of the hill.

Wangonjaya village head Ii Mulyana said the landslide caused Rp 1 billion (US$117,647) in losses.

Environmentalists called on the Bandung administration to relocate the 16 houses to a safer area, to prevent further tragedies and to ease the way for a reforestation program in the area.

West Java Governor Danny Setiawan handed over Rp 54 million in assistance for the victims on Thursday. --JP