Death toll in Padang landslide climbs to 17

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang

Rescuers discovered seven more bodies on Saturday, bringing the confirmed death toll in the Padang landslide disaster to 17 people, an official said on Saturday night.

At least eight other victims are believed to remain buried below the mud and rubble, said an official, Edi, as quoted by the Associated Press.

Eight people were being treated in hospitals for injuries, while dozens of survivors including children were taking refuge in a kindergarten building behind a search and rescue command post. Meals and daily necessities for the refugees were being provided by the Padang city administration.

As of Saturday morning, aid began flowing into the post erected about 200 meters from the disaster and below Gaung Hill. Mostly in the form of food and cash, it came from the government agencies, businesses and individuals.

Volunteers at the command post also helped people looking for relatives missing in the disaster.

The hill collapsed onto the Gaung neighborhood on Friday after torrential rain had deluged the area since Thursday. At least four homes were completely buried under mud and rocks in the slide, the second-worst in the country this year.

Human remains littering the disaster area, has made the job of rescue workers more difficult. The remains came from a cemetery located on Gaung Hill, which was mostly destroyed by the mudslide.

Visiting Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar told victims of the disaster the city would pay hospital fees for the injured and provide food for those people the disaster displaced. Fauzi said the city planned to relocate the survivors from the area as it was too dangerous for human habitation.

"The administration is seeking the right location," Fauzi said.

The last major landslide happened in Bandung in February when Leuwigajah dump collapsed onto houses, killing 143 people.