Twelve people have been confirmed dead following a landslide that hit the village of Tegal Panjang in Sukabumi District in West Java at about 10.30 pm local time on Saturday 28 March 2015. No further people are thought to be missing following the event, which completely buried eleven houses and has led to the displacement of about 300 people.
Rescue workers in the village of Tegal Panjang on Sunday 29 March 2015. AFP.
Landslides are a common problem in Java, particularly in the rainy season, which lasts from October till April, and can result in an annual rainfall in excess of 4000 mm in parts of West Java. Landslides are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall. This problem has been made worse in West Java as expanding populations has led to people farming higher on hillslopes, in an area where soils tend to be volcanic in action and poorly consolidated (i.e. lack much cohesion), making them more prone to landslides.
The approximate location of the 29 March 2015 Tegal Panjang landslide. Google Maps.
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