Indonesia landslide leaves 15 dead, dozens missing

By Mahmut Atanur

JAKARTA, Indonesia

At least 15 people died and over 41 others missing following a landslide in Indonesia’s West Java region, the country’s disaster agency said on Tuesday.

The landslide triggered by heavy seasonal rains hit Sirnaresmi village, burying around 30 houses, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNDP).

It also injured three people.

Rescue teams scramble to find survivors and evacuated a total of 63 people from the region, the spokesman added.

Indonesia has lately suffered from deadly earthquakes and tsunamis.

The country lies within the Pacific Ocean’s "Ring of Fire," where tectonic plates collide and cause frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

In September, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country's Sulawesi Island, triggering a tsunami that towered up to 10 feet (3 meters) high and killed over 2,000 people.