The death toll from a powerful landslide in West Java has risen to 10, as search and rescue teams continue to comb through the wreckage for more than 80 people still missing, authorities said Sunday.

The disaster struck in Pasir Langu village in the hilly West Bandung regency early Saturday, triggered by days of heavy rainfall that loosened soil and sent mud, rocks, and debris cascading into residential areas.

Indonesian disaster response agencies have resumed search efforts after adverse weather briefly forced operations to pause, deploying personnel, drones, and canine units across unstable terrain in hopes of finding survivors.

Rescuers are facing major challenges due to the region’s difficult terrain and ongoing rain, which officials warn could persist for several more days and complicate efforts to reach remote areas.

The Indonesian military and disaster agencies have pressed on, although heavy equipment cannot yet be safely deployed. Local officials are also investigating reports that up to 23 soldiers may be among the missing, but that information has not yet been verified.

Police in West Java confirmed that ten bodies recovered so far are being processed at a disaster victim identification (DVI) post, with six already formally identified. Authorities are using fingerprint analysis and other methods to assist identification amid ongoing efforts.

Local officials estimate that more than 110 residents were affected, with dozens of homes buried under mud and debris. At least 23 people survived and have been evacuated and are being cared for at temporary shelters.

Rescue team leaders warn that unstable ground and predictions of continued heavy rain increase the risk of secondary landslides, calling on nearby residents to stay clear of impacted areas.

The incident adds to Indonesia’s ongoing struggle with seasonal floods and landslides during the rainy season, which runs from October through April and regularly causes deadly disasters across the archipelago. In late 2025, severe floods and landslides in Sumatra killed hundreds and displaced thousands.

Officials have declared an extended emergency response period in parts of West Java to ensure continued search, rescue, and recovery operations as efforts continue amid grim conditions. (ILKHA)