A devastating series of landslides at the Gunung Kuda quarry in Bobos village, Cirebon Regency, West Java, has claimed 19 lives, officials confirmed Sunday.

The disaster, which was triggered by heavy rainfall on Friday, has left six people missing, with rescue operations suspended due to renewed ground instability.

Hadi Rahmat Hardjasasmita, spokesperson for West Java’s Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency, reported that two additional bodies were recovered Sunday morning before further landslides struck at 11:10 a.m. local time. The fresh slides forced authorities to halt search efforts for the safety of rescue teams.

“We face a challenge today. Further landslides occurred, so the search operation was temporarily suspended,” said Mamang Fatmono, acting head of the provincial search and rescue office’s operational unit. Authorities hope to resume the search on Monday if conditions stabilize.

A state of emergency has been declared in the area from May 30 to June 6 to bolster rescue and relief efforts. Emergency crews, alongside local volunteers and national disaster response teams, have been working tirelessly at the open-pit mine, where workers and equipment were buried in the initial slide.

Officials are warning the public to steer clear of the area and stay vigilant, as the risk of additional landslides remains high. (ILKHA)