Death toll from Indonesia's West Java landslide rises to 38

Alsharq Tribune-AFP 

 At least 38 people have been killed in a landslide that struck the Cisarua area of West Java province, Indonesia, with victim identification efforts still underway, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said Tuesday.

The BNPB said in a statement that as of Monday evening, 20 victims have been identified and handed over to their families, while the remaining 18 bodies are still undergoing identification.

Search and rescue operations resumed Tuesday morning with the deployment of additional heavy equipment to expand the search area. About 800 personnel, supported by nine excavators, are taking part in the ongoing operation, according to the agency.

The disaster has also displaced at least 685 residents, who are currently taking shelter at village offices and other temporary evacuation centers, the BNPB said.

Authorities said the landslide was triggered by heavy rainfall over two consecutive nights, which saturated steep slopes in the mountainous Cisarua area.

Indonesia frequently experiences floods and landslides during the rainy season, which typically runs from October to March.