Land slide buries nine

Land slide buries nine

PEMALANG, Central Java: A landslide triggered by heavy rains killed one person, buried nine others alive and seriously injured three here Tuesday, a press report said yesterday.

The incident happened at 2.30 p.m. when the slopes of Mount Kupit crumbled, sending massive quantities of dirt and gravel spiraling down toward Karang hamlet in the pounding rain, Antara reported.

As of yesterday afternoon search and rescue workers had discovered only one body and another survivor, who was in coma. The continuing downpour hampered the search for the other victims, Pemalang regency government spokesman Mulyono said.

Among the nine buried alive were a 5-year-old boy and a pregnant 18-year-old woman, he said.

Central Java governor Soewardi and regent Soewartono visited the ill-fated hamlet and delivered relief aid yesterday. (pan)