The landslide buried the Magelang-Purworejo road section at around 2:30 a.m. local time after heavy rains lashed the area for hours since Thursday afternoon, Acting Head of the Magelang Disaster Mitigation Agency Edy Susanto stated here on Friday, Jan 18.
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, he noted.
The Magelang-Purworejo road section is the only road accessible to drivers and motorists keen on travelling to and from the two districts.
"We have coordinated with local policemen to manage the flow of vehicles to avoid traffic congestion," he stated.
Due to heavy rainfall, landslides also ripped off Gejiwan Hamlet in Krasak Village, Salaman Sub-district, blocking the hamlet`s road, as well as Krambetan Hamlet in Jogomulyo Village, Tempuran Sub-district, damaging a house.
Another landslide also closed road access in Kebonagung Wetan Hamlet of Jogomulyo Village, Tempuran Sub-district.
Various parts of Indonesia are prone to landslides and several other natural disasters. On December 31, 2018, a deadly landslide ripped off Cimapag Hamlet in Sinaresmi Village, Cisolok Sub-district, Sukabumi District, West Java Province, killing 33 people.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned the residents of Cimapag Hamlet, Sinaresmi Village, in Cisolok Sub-district to stay alert to the threats of new landslides due to ongoing intense rainfall.
"The rainfall intensity remains high, and new landslides may occur. Hence, the residents of Cimapag Hamlet should stay alert and avoid all vulnerable areas, including the saturated slopes of steep cliffs," BMKG Head Dwikorita Karnawati recently warned.
The landslide buried 29 houses, killed 32 people, wounded three residents, and led to another resident going missing. Some 64 residents survived the deadly landslide.
Reporting by Heru Suyitno
Editing by Rahmad Nasution
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Azizah Fitriyanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
