More bodies found, two still missing

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang

Seven more bodies were recovered from the scene of Friday's landslide in Gaung subdistrict, Padang, which claimed 23 lives. Two other people are still missing.

Three of the bodies -- those of Edismer, 17; Yuli, 16; and Adek, 19 -- were found by rescue workers on Monday, with four others being found earlier on Sunday.

Two of the three victims found on Monday, Edismer and Yuli, were siblings, the children of fisherman Edismet and his wife Imelda. The couple died in the disaster while of their five children, only 10-year-old Sherli survived as she was staying with her grandmother at the time of the disaster.

Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar, said on Monday that the rescue effort would continue until all two missing people were found.

The two have been identified as Agung, 4; and Dedep, 15.

The disaster happened before daybreak on Friday when Gaung Hill collapsed, completely destroying nine houses and a cemetery, following two days of torrential rain since Thursday.

On Sunday, the central government and local administrations announced a plan to relocate residents of the area to a new location in Aiepacah, which is around eight kilometers away.

The Padang landslide is the second worst in the country this year since mountains of garbage in Leuwigajah, Bandung, collapsed in February, killing 143 people living nearby.