At least 32 people were killed, three were injured and another went missing due to landslides triggered by torrential downpours in Magelang district of Indonesia’s Central Java province on18 January.

Landslide in Central Java's road (Photo: Antara)

The landslides buried 29 local houses and the Magelang-Purworejo road section, crippling vehicular flow to and from Purworejo district.

Landslide material reached heights of one meter to up to three meters, and the rescue workers were required to use at least two backhoes to clear the debris and fallen trees blocking the main road, said Acting Head of the Magelang Disaster Mitigation Agency Edy Susanto.

Due to heavy rainfall, landslides also ripped off villages in Salaman sub-district, and Tempuran sub-district, damaging houses and roads.

Earlier on 31 December, 2018, a deadly landslide occurred in Sinaresmi village, Sukabumi district of West Java province, killing 33 people.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency of Indonesia (BMKG) has warned the residents of various high-risk areas to stay alert to the threats of new landslides due to ongoing intense rainfall.

(Source: VNA)