Bandung. A landslide triggered by heavy overnight rainfall tore through a hillside village in West Java early Saturday, killing at least eight people, flattening dozens of homes and leaving scores of residents unaccounted for, local authorities said.

The disaster struck around 3 a.m. local time in Pasir Kuning hamlet, Pasirlangu village, in the Cisarua district of West Bandung regency, as earth and debris slid down the foothills of Mount Burangrang. Entire residential areas in several neighborhood units were buried, officials said.

West Bandung Regent Jeje Ritchie Ismail declared a local disaster emergency to speed up rescue efforts, victim searches and the delivery of aid to affected residents.

“The number of victims is extraordinarily high, and access to the site is very difficult,” Jeje said during a visit to the area. “This status allows us to deploy more personnel and ensure assistance can reach the location.”

Preliminary data as of midday showed at least 113 people from 34 families were affected. Eight bodies have been recovered, 23 people were rescued alive, and about 82 others remain missing. Authorities cautioned that the figures could change as search operations continue.

Earlier, Pasirlangu village head Nur Awaludin Lubis said landslide debris swept away at least 35 houses across multiple neighborhood units, with some areas completely leveled. Rescue teams initially recorded around 93 residents as missing, underscoring the scale of the devastation.

Emergency responders, including police, military personnel and disaster management officials, are continuing search-and-rescue operations amid unstable terrain. Heavy earth and rock deposits have made access difficult, forcing rescuers to work cautiously to avoid secondary landslides.

Survivors and displaced residents have been evacuated to the village office and temporary shelters, while several injured victims were taken to nearby health clinics for medical treatment. Family members have gathered at the village office seeking information about missing relatives, as officials compile a list of residents from homes destroyed in the disaster.

Jeje said the local government would strengthen disaster mitigation efforts, noting that West Bandung and much of West Java are prone to landslides, flash floods and other weather-related disasters, particularly during the rainy season.

“We will intensify coordination, especially in high-risk areas such as hillsides and steep terrain,” he said.

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