A devastating landslide triggered by heavy rainfall has claimed at least 17 lives in Central Java, Indonesia, with nine others still missing, according to disaster officials, AFP has reported. The landslide occurred on January 20 in a remote mountainous area near Pekalongan city, burying homes, vehicles and collapsing a bridge under layers of thick mud.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) confirmed the updated death toll after rescue teams recovered another body on January 21. "The number of victims who died reached 17," said BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari, adding that the number of missing individuals had increased from three to nine.

The affected area, approximately 90 kilometres west of Semarang, is particularly vulnerable to landslides due to its hilly terrain and heavy rainfall. "The rainfall in Pekalongan was quite high, and the worst affected area is in a hilly or mountainous region," said Pekalongan police chief Doni Prakoso Widamanto.

Rescue efforts have been hindered by damaged infrastructure, including a broken bridge and blocked roads. Television footage showed volunteers retrieving bodies on makeshift stretchers, while roads remained caked in thick mud. Search operations were temporarily halted due to ongoing heavy rain, which complicated efforts to reach the site and locate survivors.

Local volunteers, police and soldiers have joined rescue teams in the search. Central Java disaster agency official Bergas Catursasi Penanggungan highlighted the challenges, noting, "There are still small landslides that must be cleared." Heavy machinery is expected to be deployed to assist in clearing debris and locating victims.

Indonesia frequently experiences landslides and floods during the rainy season, which typically runs from November to April. Previous incidents this rainy season include flooding in western Indonesia that killed 27 people in November and flash floods in West Sumatra, claiming at least 67 lives.

The weather forecast for the next three days predicts moderate rain, increasing the risk of further floods and landslides in the region.