INDOPOSCO.ID – A joint task force is continuing search and rescue operations for victims of landslides accompanied by flash floods that struck Cisarua District, West Bandung Regency, leaving seven people dead and hundreds of residents still unaccounted for.
Cisarua Police Chief A.Y. Yogaswara said in Bandung on Saturday (Jan 24, 2026) that the disaster occurred in the early hours of Saturday at around 3:00 a.m. local time.
Residents reported hearing a loud rumbling sound before soil and mud slid from Pasirkuning Village toward Pasir Kuda Village in Pasirlangu Sub-district.
“At the time of the incident, residents heard a strong rumbling noise, after which landslide material moved from Pasirkuning Village toward Pasir Kuda Village, accompanied by flash floods,” he said.
As a result of the disaster, dozens of houses were reportedly buried under landslide debris and mud, causing severe damage to residential areas around the affected location.
Based on preliminary police data, seven people had been found dead as of Saturday (Jan 24) at 12:00 p.m. local time, while hundreds of other residents are still believed to be missing and remain under search by joint teams on the ground.
Yogaswara explained that evacuation and search efforts involve personnel from the police, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), volunteers, and local residents, who are working together to carry out emergency response operations.
However, search efforts have been hampered by difficult terrain, thick landslide material, and weather conditions that still pose a risk of further rainfall in the area.
“We are continuing to make maximum efforts to search for victims while prioritizing the safety of personnel in the field,” Yogaswara was quoted as saying by Antara.
He also urged residents living near the affected area to remain alert and stay away from landslide-prone zones, citing the continued risk of secondary disasters due to unstable soil conditions. (aro)
