"Referring to data from the Operations Control Center (Pusdalops) of the BNPB, as of Sunday, January 17, at 3:59 WIB, the joint SAR team has found a total of 28 bodies," Dr. Raditya Jati, the agency's Head of the Center for Data, Information and Communications. Disaster, said in a press statement here on Sunday.
As many as 12 other victims remained missing, he said.
Related news: Jokowi extends condolences following Sumedang landslide
Incessant rains hampered the search operations which had to be carried out carefully and vigilantly because of possible subsequent landslides, as the Geological Agency warned that there were still cracks in several landslide locations, he said.
The joint team used four heavy equipment in the process of evacuating victims, which was expected to last until the next few days.
Two consecutive landslides hit Cihanjuang Village, Cimanggung Sub-district, Sumedang District, West Java, on January 9, displacing 1,020 people and destroying several houses.
Related news: Rescuers' efforts ongoing to locate 24 missing residents of Sumedang
Translator: Katriana, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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