Indonesia Extends Search for Banjarnegara Landslide Victims as Death Toll Reaches 12

Indonesia has extended search and rescue operations at a landslide in Banjarnegara, Central Java, after two more bodies were recovered, bringing the death toll to 12, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said on Sunday (June 23). The agency spokesperson, Abdul Muhari, stated that the search has been extended for three more days to locate the remaining 16 missing individuals following the Nov 15 disaster in the remote village of Pandanarum. Teams are working diligently in challenging conditions due to unstable terrain and shifting weather. Additionally, the use of a BNPB-operated Cessna Caravan to disperse calcium oxide (CaO) for weather modification has been crucial in reducing the risk of rain and aiding ground searches. Abdul Muhari emphasized the importance of the combined ground and aerial strategy in ensuring an effective emergency response.