Landslide hits Indonesia, claiming 16 lives 10 others injured

A landslide in the Indonesian city of Pekalongan, Central Java, has resulted in the deaths of 16 individuals and left 10 others injured.

The event occurred following heavy rains in the area, as confirmed by Bergas Caturasi, an official at the country’s regional disaster mitigation agency, during an interview with an Indonesian news outlet on January 21, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, but officials report that the search for missing persons is being hindered by continued rainfall.

"The search continues on, because we don't have a lot of time. We're in a race with the weather," Caturasi stated.

Local authorities are mobilising resources to assist in the rescue operations, emphasising the urgency of their mission as weather conditions worsen. The community is rallying to support the affected families during this difficult time.

Notably, from October to March, seasonal rains often lead to flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands where millions reside in mountainous regions or near fertile floodplains.

By Khagan Isayev