Landslide hits Jambi, leaves 1 person dead, another missing

Landslide hits Jambi, leaves 1 person dead, another missing

Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post/Jambi

A landslide hit Talang Lindung subdistrict in Kerinci, here on
Wednesday night, leaving one resident dead, another missing and
three others severely injured.

The landslide, which occurred after three days of heavy rain,
also damaged 20 houses in the area.

The dead resident was identified as Dasni, 55, while the
missing one has been named as Lusi, 16.

"Three other victims Yusnidar, 26, Tarida, 20 and Warman, 50
are being treated at Kerinci Regental Hospital for severe
injuries," Kerinci administration spokesman Adli was quoted as
saying by Antara news agency on Thursday.

The landslide and flooding had also led to the collapse of
three bridges, damage to two others and the loss of a good number
of chickens, cows and goats. The local administration is still
calculating the material losses.

Following the disaster, over 100 residents took refuge in
places of worship and their relatives' houses in neighboring
subdistricts.

Adli said that the government would soon channel various kinds
of aid to the refugees, including money, food, cooking utensils,
secondhand clothing and rice.

In the meantime, security and police personnel, helped by
local residents, are searching for Lusi, who went missing on
Wednesday night.

Separately, Debby Martyr, an environmental activist with Tiger
Sumatra, said the subdistrict was prone to landslides and
flooding.

The subdistrict is located at the foot of Mount Kerinci.
Illegal logging activities on the lower slopes of the mountain
have made the area susceptible to landslides in the event of
rain.

Debby added that floods and landslides had been an annual
occurrence for years in Kerinci, which is some 500 kilometers
west of Jambi, the capital of Jambi province.

Mount Kerinci stands some 3,750 meters above sea level.