Cilacap, Indonesia – November 16, 2025 – A catastrophic landslide triggered by days of relentless heavy rainfall has claimed at least 11 lives in Central Java's Cilacap Regency, with 12 individuals still unaccounted for as search and rescue operations push into their third day. The disaster, which struck late on Thursday, November 13, buried more than a dozen homes under layers of mud and debris up to 8 meters (26 feet) deep, turning the rural hamlet of Cibeunying Village into a scene of profound tragedy and urgent humanitarian response.
M. Abdullah, head of the Cilacap Search and Rescue Office, confirmed the latest toll during a press briefing on Saturday, emphasizing the grueling challenges faced by responders. "As of Saturday afternoon, we have recovered 11 bodies—three on Friday and eight more today," Abdullah stated, according to reports from local broadcaster Kompas TV. He added that the remaining 12 missing persons, including women and children, are believed to be trapped in hard-to-reach sectors of the slide zone, where unstable soil and ongoing light rains complicate efforts. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) echoed these figures, noting that the incident affected three hamlets—Cibuyut, Tarukahan, and Cibeunying—in Majenang District, displacing over 90 residents and prompting the relocation of 28 vulnerable households to safer ground.
The landslide unfolded around 8:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, when torrential downpours—part of Indonesia's intensifying wet season—saturated steep hillsides and dislodged massive volumes of earth and rock. Eyewitnesses described a deafening roar as the ground gave way, engulfing homes, livestock, and personal belongings in a wall of sludge. "It happened so fast; one moment we were preparing dinner, the next everything was gone," recounted Siti Nurhaliza, a 42-year-old survivor whose neighbor's family remains among the missing. Initial reports from Friday morning pegged the death toll at two, with 21 missing and three injured, but exhaustive searches uncovered additional victims throughout the day. By Saturday, the confirmed fatalities had risen sharply, underscoring the disaster's rapid escalation.
Rescue operations, involving over 700 personnel from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), police, and local volunteers, are being conducted across five designated sectors. Heavy machinery, including excavators and bulldozers, has been airlifted to the remote site, while search dogs and water pumps combat mud accumulation. "The depth of the burial—3 to 8 meters—makes this one of the most technically demanding recoveries we've seen this season," said Budi Irawan, a BNPB deputy, highlighting the use of drones for aerial mapping and thermal imaging to detect signs of life beneath the rubble. Despite the obstacles, teams have evacuated 23 survivors, providing them with medical care for minor injuries like fractures and hypothermia. Temporary shelters in nearby community halls are now housing displaced families, with the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) distributing essentials such as food, clean water, blankets, and hygiene kits.
This tragedy is emblematic of broader vulnerabilities in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands where over 270 million people reside in hazard-prone areas. The wet season, spanning October to April, routinely unleashes flash floods, landslides, and volcanic activity, exacerbated by deforestation, illegal logging, and climate change-induced extreme weather patterns. In Central Java alone, steep terrain and saturated soils from prolonged monsoons have made the region a hotspot for such events. Just this January, a similar landslide in Pekalongan city—also fueled by torrential rains—killed at least 25 people and injured dozens more, prompting calls for enhanced early warning systems. Earlier this month, flash floods and landslides in Papua province claimed 15 lives and left eight missing, further straining national resources.
Experts attribute the rising frequency and severity of these disasters to human-environment interactions. "Deforestation in upland areas reduces soil stability, while urbanization on slopes amplifies risks," explained Dr. Rina Suryantini, a geologist at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. According to BNPB data, Indonesia recorded over 2,500 landslides in 2024, a 15% increase from the previous year, with Central Java accounting for nearly 20% of incidents. Climate models from the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) predict above-average rainfall through December, urging communities in the Majenang basin—already on high alert—to heed evacuation orders.
In response, President Joko Widodo's administration has mobilized an additional 500 million rupiah (about $32,000 USD) in emergency funds for Cilacap, focusing on infrastructure repairs and community resilience programs. Suharyanto, BNPB chief, emphasized proactive measures: "We're not just reacting; we're relocating families from 28 high-risk homes to prevent a repeat. Early warnings via SMS and community drills saved lives here." Local officials are also investigating potential negligence in land-use permits, as preliminary assessments reveal unregulated hillside farming contributed to soil erosion.
The human cost extends beyond the numbers. In Cibeunying, a tight-knit farming community of around 1,200 residents, the landslide has shattered daily life. Funerals for the identified victims—mostly farmers and their families—began Saturday under overcast skies, with prayers echoing through makeshift tents. "We've lost neighbors, friends; it's like our village heart is broken," said village head Aji Pramono, who lost his own home in the slide. Social media posts from affected families, including videos of the chaos shared by the PMI, have garnered international sympathy, with hashtags like #PrayForCilacap trending regionally.
As operations continue into Sunday, with light to moderate rains forecast, hope persists for the missing. "Every hour counts, but we're committed until the last person is accounted for," Abdullah affirmed. International aid organizations, including the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), are monitoring the situation, ready to assist if the crisis escalates. This disaster serves as a stark reminder of nature's fury in a warming world, where vulnerable communities bear the brunt. For now, Cilacap clings to resilience amid the ruins, as rescuers dig not just for survivors, but for closure.
