Five killed in Bali landslide

DENPASAR, Bali: Five people, including two women, were killed when a landslide hit the remote village of Muncan, Karangasem regency, some 80 kilometers east of here, on Tuesday.

All the fatalities were local farmers who were quarrying sand when the landslide occurred at 1:30 p.m. local time.

Eyewitnesses said a nearby hill of about 50 meters in height collapsed. Several people managed to escape, but the five were apparently too slow in escaping and a large amount of soil hit them.

"They were buried alive, and it took some hours for rescue workers and locals to dig their bodies out," Bali Police spokesman Y Suyatmo said on Wednesday.

He said the deceased were identified as I Nengah Serasi, Nyoman Berati, Ni Nyoman Putu, Ni Nengah Serasi and Nyoman Endek. (zen)