25 dead and missing as severe floods and landslides hit Java, Indonesia

Flash floods and landslides in Central Java, Indonesia, left at least 17 people dead and 8 missing on January 20 after torrential rain caused rivers to overflow, sending a surge of water, mud, and debris through 9 villages in Pekalongan Regency.

The worst-affected area was Petungkriyono where rescuers recovered 17 bodies and continued to search for missing residents. At least 11 injured survivors were taken to hospitals for treatment, according to Bergas Catursasi, head of the local Disaster Management Agency.

Rescue teams, including police officers, soldiers, and volunteers, used excavators and hand tools to clear debris. Television footage showed workers navigating thick mud and carrying victims on bamboo stretchers and in body bags to emergency vehicles.

Catursari reported that challenging terrain, ongoing rain, and landslides made search efforts difficult.

“Bad weather, mudslides, and rugged terrain hampered the rescue operation,” Catursari said, explaining that some victims were swept away while fishing or taking shelter from the rain.

The search was paused in the afternoon because of heavy rain and thick fog but is set to resume early on January 22, according to Budiono, head of the provincial Search and Rescue Office.

“The floods swept away vehicles and buried two houses under landslides,” Abdul Muhari, a National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) spokesperson, reported.

Infrastructure damage included the destruction of 2 key bridges linking villages in the Pekalongan District. The government is assessing the extent of the damage and planning recovery efforts.

A separate landslide struck 5 houses in Denpasar, Bali, on January 20, killing 4 people and leaving one missing. The landslide also injured 3 people. Reports of flooding surfaced from multiple provinces across the country.

Indonesia experiences heavy seasonal rains from October to March resulting in flooding and landslides.

The country is an archipelago of 17 000 islands and has large populations living in mountainous regions and low-lying floodplains, making it vulnerable to such disasters.

References:

¹ Landslides, flash floods on Indonesia’s Java island leave 17 dead, 8 missing – The Hindu – January 21, 2025

Rishika Yadav

Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.

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