At least 15 people have died and 42 remain missing due to a landslide on Serasan Island, located in the Natuna region between Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but poor weather conditions and communication issues have hindered progress. Houses have been reduced to rubble, trees have fallen, and roofs have been destroyed. Estimates suggest the landslide was between 100 and 200 meters long. Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, reported that 10 bodies have been recovered, while eight missing people were found alive, four of them in critical condition. The rescuers are focused on locating approximately 30 buried houses, which is their central search point. The authorities have moved 1,216 residents to temporary shelters in mosques and community health centers. Food, tents, satellite communication equipment, and two helicopters have been provided. The heavy equipment, such as excavators, has not yet arrived. Unfortunately, Indonesia is prone to landslides during the rainy season, which are exacerbated by deforestation. Furthermore, heightened climate change leads to severe meteorological catastrophes, flooding, and landslides. In 2020, Jakarta and nearby cities experienced deadly floods and landslides caused by heavy downpours.
