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JAKARTA: Authorities have evacuated nearly 250 residents from Pasirmunjul Village in Purwakarta Regency, West Java, following a slow-moving landslide that has affected the area since June 11
The West Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reported that around 80 houses were damaged in the incident, with nearly 50 of them almost completely flattened.
“The landslide also severely damaged access roads to the village and a place of worship,” agency spokesperson Hadi Rahmad said on Sunday as quoted by Kompas. Hadi added that 249 people from 81 families were forced to leave their homes following the disaster, with 78 staying in a temporary shelter at the Pasirmunjul sports hall and the rest taking refuge with relatives.
The disaster has also forced residents to relocate dozens of graves in the village, as many tombs cracked open and shifted. As of Sunday, villagers and authorities had managed to relocate 26 graves, but dozens more still remain.
Villagers, meanwhile, are struggling to identify the remains of the deceased because the graves have shifted significantly from their original locations.
They are also facing difficulties in securing ambulance services to transport the remains, as road access is blocked by landslide debris.
According to BPBD’s Hadi, the area in Pasirmunjul Village that was affected by the landslide spans approximately 18,750sq m, with soil shifting up to 20m from its original position.
The slow-moving landslide occurred at intervals of around 10 minutes until Sunday afternoon.
“There is a possibility the movement will continue, especially since the village is classified as having a moderate landslide risk.
As a precaution, we have cut off electricity to the area and are urging residents to remain vigilant and stay clear of the affected zone,” he said.
Hadi said the disaster was triggered by a combination of factors, including steep, sparsely vegetated hillsides in the village and inadequate drainage systems. These conditions led to water buildup in the soil, causing it to gradually shift downslope.
The soil in the area is also believed to be composed of thick, porous layers of weathered material that easily become saturated with water, making it especially vulnerable to ground movement. Teten Ali Mulku Engkun, head of the West Java BPBD, has urged the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) to assess the ground conditions in Pasirmunjul Village.
He feared the landslide could impact the Cipularang Toll Road, which is located just about one kilometer from the disaster site.
“The soil movement is extensive and highly concerning. If we don’t take action soon, it could affect the Cipularang Toll Road, which is one of Indonesia’s vital highways,” he said on Saturday, as quoted by Tribunnews.
Slow-moving landslides have occurred three times in Pasirmunjul Village since the beginning of the year, on April 20, April 23 and May 19, though the damage was less severe.
Purwakarta Regent Saepul Bahri Binzein said it is likely the affected residents will need to be permanently relocated, as the village is considered too risky for continued habitation.
The incident in Purwakarta occurred less than six months after a slow-moving landslide struck 72 villages in Sukabumi Regency in December, affecting over 1,200 people.
The disaster damaged nearly 1,000 houses, 18 public facilities and 57 hectares of farmland. In January, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) identified five regencies in West Java, namely Sukabumi, Cianjur, Garut, Bogor and Tasikmalaya, as having a high risk of slow-moving landslides.
At least 60 to 70 per cent of the land in these areas is considered highly vulnerable to soil movement. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
