Arizona Tribune - Indonesia landslide death toll rises to 74

Heavy rain triggered the landslide that tore through a mountain village in Java's West Bandung region on January 24, burying dozens of homes and displacing hundreds.

Thousands of rescuers, supported by police, military and volunteers, have been digging through mud and debris manually and using heavy equipment.

The local search and rescue agency said 74 victims had been identified.

"There are still a number of residents on the missing persons list who have not yet been found," said the agency's head Ade Dian Permana, without giving a figure.

"Weather conditions remain the main challenge, with thick fog and rain still covering the search area, significantly impacting visibility and stability in the area," said Ade.

He said the search would continue but with adjustments as it had now entered the recovery phase.

The Indonesian navy has said that 23 personnel that were training in the area were among those caught in the landslide that struck Pasirlangu village.

Around 50 houses were damaged and more than 160 people remain displaced, according to local authorities.

The government has pointed to the role forest loss played in flooding and landslides on the neighbouring island of Sumatra late last year, which killed around 1,200 people and displaced more than 240,000.

Forests help absorb rainfall and stabilise the ground held by their roots, and their absence makes areas more prone to landslides.

Such disasters are common across the vast Indonesian archipelago during the rainy season, which typically runs from October to March.

H.Romero--AT