The death toll in landslides that hit the western Indonesian island of Java has climbed to 15 people, local media reported on Wednesday, citing Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 02nd January, 2019) The death toll in landslides that hit the western Indonesian island of Java has climbed to 15 people, local media reported on Wednesday, citing Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency.
As of Tuesday, eight people have been reported dead.
A total of 20 people are still missing, the Xinhua news agency specified.
While rescue operations continue, rescue teams face threat of new landslides, and operations are hindered by "unstable earth conditions," Sutopo told Xinhua.
He added that more victims are believed to be buried under soil and rocks, as well as 30 houses.
The 63 villagers that had survived the landslides were taken to shelters, Sutopo said.
The landslides that hit Java at 5 p.m. local time (10:00 GMT) on Monday are believed to have been caused by heavy rains.
