Three Residents in Southwest Sumba Buried by Quarry Landslide, Two Still Missing
Three residents were buried by excavation material at Tilu Mareda hamlet, Djela Manu village, North Wewewa subdistrict, Southwest Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara province. One person was reported rescued with injuries, whilst two others remain missing.
The landslide at the excavation site occurred at approximately 10:00 WITA on Monday, 16 March 2026. The three victims were Anderias Bili and two primary school students: Arjuna Saputra Gono Ate (12) and Sardianto Rato Pote (7). Anderias was found alive, whilst the two pupils remain missing.
“It is a landslide disaster that resulted in victims being buried by material, with one person sustaining injuries but surviving,” said AKP Bernardus Mbili Kandi, head of public relations at Southwest Sumba Police, to detikBali on Monday.
Bernardus explained that the incident occurred when Anderias and the two boys went to excavate soil for church construction work. The location was not far from their home.
Upon arrival at the site, Anderias began digging whilst Arjuna and Sardianto played in an old excavation pit. According to Bernardus, Anderias had cautioned the two pupils not to play in the old excavation pit.
Shortly afterwards, soil material suddenly collapsed and buried all three. Anderias Bili managed to pull his son Juandri Saputra Inangele free, allowing him to escape the landslide safely. However, Arjuna and Sardianto were already buried.
After the incident, Anderias attempted to dig to rescue the two buried victims. However, a secondary landslide occurred, striking Anderias’s head with falling rocks.
Anderias quickly moved away from the landslide area. He decided to return home and seek assistance from local residents to search for Arjuna and Sardianto, who were buried by the landslide.
As of Monday evening, Arjuna and Sardianto had not been found. Rescue personnel and residents continued strenuous search efforts using available equipment.
“Victim Anderias Bili is being treated at Palla Health Centre, North Wewewa subdistrict, due to serious injuries to his head,” Bernardus stated.