Unstable Weather, Heavy Equipment Plus Accelerating Search For Cilacap Landslide Victims

Heavy equipment was deployed to accelerate the handling of landslides in Cibeunying Village, Majenang District, Cilacap Regency, Central Java, Saturday (15/11/2025), especially in looking for victims buried by landslide material. BETWEEN ANTARA/HO-Central Java Provincial Government

JAKARTA - The Central Java Provincial Government (Pemprov) has added heavy equipment to accelerate the search for victims and handling of landslides in Cibeunying Village, Cilacap Regency.

"The conditions in the field, especially areas affected by landslides, must be very careful in handling," said Head of the Central Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Bergas Catursation Management in Cibeunying Village, Majenang District, Cilacap, Saturday, confiscated by Antara.

According to him, the Central Java BPBD together with related agencies conducted search operations from 07.00 WIB to 16.00 WIB.

He said the situation on the ground was still unstable, especially since the weather was cloudy and the rain had made the evacuation process had to be temporarily suspended because it had the potential to endanger the team.

Therefore, he said, the addition of heavy equipment was carried out to speed up the opening of access and search.

Previously there were two units of heavy equipment at the location, then two more units were added, and this Saturday three additional units were brought in. The next addition is possible to be carried out as needed in the field," he explained.

He said the weather factor was still a major concern because of the heavy rain that occurred on the second day of the search operation, Friday, November 14, causing the soil to be softer so as to increase the risk of subsequent landslides and hinder the team's mobilization.

In addition to the search for victims, he said, the disaster emergency handling cluster, including logistics, health, and protection of residents, has been running.

"Access to the landslide location is also closed to the public to ensure the safety and smooth running of SAR operations," he said.

According to him, the basic needs of the affected residents have been met through food, basic necessities, and public kitchen services.

Regarding the post-disaster recovery efforts, he said the government plans to propose the construction of temporary housing (huntara) in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), while the land is prepared by the local government.

"Currently there are 17 affected families, most of whom fled to relatives' homes because the Dusun Cibuyut and Taruhan areas have close kinship relations," said Bsrgas.

On a separate occasion, Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi emphasized that the handling was focused on searching for missing victims and evacuating residents from the first day of the incident.

"The Central Java Provincial Government is currently continuing to carry out handling, with the main priority being the search for missing victims and the evacuation of survivors since the first day of the landslide occurred," he said.

On the third day of the search, Saturday, the joint SAR team found the bodies of 8 victims of the landslide disaster in Cibeunying Village, so that 11 victims were found and there are still 10 people who are still being searched.