November 21, 2025 | 08:45 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Search and rescue teams recovered seven more bodies on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the site of the landslide in Pandanarum Village, Banjarnegara, Central Java.
Abdul Muhari, Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Data, Information, and Communication Center, confirmed the findings in a statement on Friday. "With this discovery, the death toll has risen to 10, while 18 others remain missing," Muhari stated.
Casualties and Damage
The disaster, which struck last Sunday, was triggered by prolonged heavy rainfall and unstable soil conditions caused by underground springs. The impact has been severe:
Casualties: 10 dead, 18 missing, 7 injured.
Infrastructure: 48 houses destroyed or buried; 195 houses damaged.
Displacement: 934 residents have been evacuated.
Search Operations and Logistics
A joint task force of 700 personnel, including Basarnas, Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police (Polri), and volunteers, is operating in three sectors. Teams are utilizing K-9 units, 12 excavators, and 12 water pumps to manage the waterlogged terrain.
"A total of 12 excavators and 12 water pump units were deployed to expedite the evacuation process, which includes managing the waterlogged soil hindering the search at the landslide site," he said.
Aid distribution is being centralized at the Junior High School or SMP Pandanarum. Support from the Ministry of Social Affairs, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), and National Alms Agency (Baznas) continues to arrive, while the Disaster Alertness Team (Tagana) is operating public kitchens for victims and rescue workers. Medical teams and psychosocial support services for students are also on-site.
Obstacles and Mitigation
Rescue efforts face significant risks, including the threat of secondary landslides caused by rain and active springs. To mitigate this, authorities are employing weather modification technology and digging drainage channels to divert water into the river.
A joint SAR team evacuates victims of a landslide in Situkung Hamlet, Pandanarum Village, Pandanarum District, Banjarnegara Regency, Central Java, November 19, 2025. Antara/Aprillio Akbar
"These efforts are being made to ensure the safety of personnel and expedite the search for the 18 victims who have not yet been found," Muhari said.
The BNPB emergency handling post in Pandanarum will continue to provide regular updates and coordinate all elements to prioritize resident safety, speed up the search for victims, and meet the needs of the evacuees. "It is hoped that the entire handling process can proceed smoothly and the missing victims can be found soon," he concluded.
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