Landslide in Central Java's Cilacap District Follows Torrential Rains

A severe landslide struck parts of Indonesia's Central Java province on the evening of Thursday, November 13, 2025, following a period of sustained, heavy precipitation. The saturation of the terrain in the Cilacap district resulted in the collapse of unstable ground, an event that tragically claimed the lives of at least three individuals, with reports indicating that 20 or 21 people remained unaccounted for as of Friday morning, November 14, 2025.

The immediate aftermath saw a significant mobilization of resources, with approximately 200 joint personnel deployed for search and rescue operations. This coordinated effort included the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI). The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), under the direction of Head Suharyanto, confirmed the deployment of heavy equipment, water pumps, and essential supplies to the affected zones.

Progress in the recovery efforts is being severely impeded by challenging operational conditions. Persistent adverse weather, characterized by dense fog and continuous rain, significantly restricts visibility and access to the most affected areas. Abdul Muhari, the spokesman for the national disaster agency, noted that the unstable soil contour presents a major hurdle for search and rescue teams attempting operations in the critical recovery window.

The disaster impacted multiple locations, affecting dozens of houses across three distinct villages, including Cibeunying Village in the Majenang Sub-district. In response to the inherent danger posed by the soil conditions, the BNPB has mandated the prompt relocation of 28 households situated in these high-risk zones once emergency handling operations are concluded.

This incident highlights a recurring vulnerability for Java Island, which is known to be the area most exposed to mass movements in Indonesia, frequently occurring during the humid tropical rainy season between October and April. Central Java exhibits high landslide susceptibility across approximately 60% of its area, influenced by weathered volcanic materials and structural geology. Earlier in the week, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had issued an extreme weather warning, cautioning that high rainfall could trigger hydrometeorological disasters across several regions.

The Indonesian government continues to integrate disaster risk reduction into national strategies, focusing on strengthening community resilience and strictly monitoring land use. The immediate structural mitigation involves the deployment of heavy equipment and the systematic relocation of residents from vulnerable areas, addressing the frequent combination of geological conditions and heavy rainfall that triggers these devastating events.