Landslide claims more lives in Garut after Bali tragedy

JAKARTA (JP): Five residents, including a father and son, who were working to clear out mud from a landslide in Garut, West Java, died when another landslide hit them on Friday. As of Saturday at least two more were believed to have died.

The tragedy was the second following a landslide in Gianyar, Bali, where the death toll reached 32 on Saturday as five more bodies were shoveled out of the mud. Heavy rains stopped the search which was planned to continue on Sunday.

Meanwhile recent floods, which killed seven in South Sulawesi, are taking a further toll with scores of people being treated for diarrhea and other ailments. One nine-year old was reported to have died.

A landslide also took place in Jember, East Java, on Friday evening, killing one woman and injuring three others, Antara reported.

The victims were taking shelter from heavy rain in a food stall at the foot of a hill in Karang Silo village when the incident happened.

The landslide in Garut occurred Friday at the Sukalaksana village in Talegong district, about 70 kilometers southeast of Bandung.

"Despite heavy rains the villagers continued to clear the streets, covered by a previous landslide," Genteng subdistrict military chief Second Sgt. Kuatno Santosa told The Jakarta Post.

About 20 villagers and Kampung Genteng police post chief Sgt. Dadang Purlana worked to clear the road connecting Pengalengan and Cisewu in Garut. They started shortly after dinner following the breaking of the fast. Unexpectedly, another landslide hit the area, destroying two homes.

Workers rescued 7 people from the mud on Friday, and pulled out the bodies of Karis bin Adeh, 30, Jajang, 28, and Masri, 28. The seven survivors were taken to hospital, some with severe injuries. Another two bodies were recovered Saturday, identified as Yayan 19, and his father Dadang, 48. Two others, Pardi bin Ucum and Jajang, are yet to be found.

In Ujungpandang, hospitals were full of patients suffering from dengue, diarrhea, breathing difficulties and skin infections following the floods of Jan. 3 and 4.

The coordinator of medical volunteers here, Idrus Paturusi, said about 500 people were suffering from flood-related ailments. The state-owned TVRI reported one nine-year-old died of diarrhea.

The ailments were detected by medical volunteers during the evacuation of some 8,000 flood victims in Ujungpandang and surrounding areas.

Hospital staff told the Post they expected more patients. Thirty-two diagnosed with diarrhea came from one housing complex in Antang, one of the areas where a coordination post had been set up.

Medical volunteer Yeni said unsanitory conditions, including dirty wells, were one cause for the spread of diarrhea.

"The most dangerous period is the first two weeks after floods," she said.

In Gianyar, Bali, apart from the five more bodies recovered on Saturday, eight more are believed to still buried.

Gianyar police precinct chief Lt. Col. Komaruddin told the Post on Saturday that heavy rains stopped rescue work at the site in Timbul hamlet in Pupuan village.

"The location is declared closed to the public for fears of new landslides," he said, explaining there were many gorges with steep banks in the area.

Komaruddin said that the five latest found bodies were I. Wayan Rungki, I. Kerug, I. Kadeg Pasek, I. Wayan Sukade and I. Wayan Sudi.

"The five were immediately buried in a public cemetery near the hamlet after being identified by local authorities and their families," he said.

He said rescuers from the Mobile Brigade of the Gianyar district military and local volunteers would continue their work again on Sunday.

An estimated 40 people were buried in the landslide on Thursday morning while working with 30 others to repair and irrigation canal near the hamlet.

Seventeen bodies were discovered on Thursday and 10 others on Friday. Twelve people escaped and seven others are still at the Gianyar General Hospital.

Gianyar Regent Cekorde Gde Budi Suryawan said part of Rp 50 million in cash and dozens of tons of rice from authorities and the public has been channeled to victims and their families.

In another part of the country, nearly a week of floods has destroyed hundreds of homes in Tanah Laut regency in South Kalimantan.

Antara did not report any fatalities. (43/rms/27/prb)