Cianjur, W Java (ANTARA News) - After three days of searching, a family of three people buried under the mud of a landslide that crushed their house in Cianjur district, West Java, was finally found on Saturday.

The search and rescue workers found Wawan, his wife Nurlaela and their daughter Nuraini, in three meters deep mud following the landslide on Saturday at about 08.30 am. local time.

"We found them dead in one location," said Ewok, a rescue worker from Cianjur district`s Indonesian Red Cross.

With the discovery of the Wawan family, the death toll had increased to 10. Thus, all the ten missing people had been found, he said.

Besides crushing Wawan`s house, the deadly landslide that hit Ciawitali hamlet, Sukamekar village, Sukanagara sub-district, Cianjur district, on Tuesday, also destroyed four other houses.

The landslide of a 70-meter-high cliff occured after torrential rain showered the areas for several hours on Thursday.

Yayat, Wawan`s relative, looked so shocked and could only cry when the rescuers evacuated Wawan, his wife and daughter from the muddy soil.

Besides destroying four houses, the Tuesday`s landslide also cut the main roads linking Sukamekar village to its neighboring areas.

According to Suryana, on-duty police officer of Sukanagara police precinct, most of the people chose to stay at home during the heavy rainfall.

Therefore, when they suddenly heard the sounds of landslide at about 05.30 pm, some failed to rush out in time, he said.

Local residents worked hand-in-hand with military and police officers to search for the landslide victims being buried under their destroyed houses since Thursday evening.

Over the past two months, various areas of West Java Province have continuously been showered by heavy rains.

As a result, floods and landslides occurred in some districts, including Bandung and Garut.

On March 9, a landslide also destroyed four houses and an Islamic school in Cihuni hamlet, Gandamekar village, Kadungora sub-district, Garut district.

There were no fatalities in the natural disaster but the house owners were evacuated to safer places.

On February 23, a deadly landslide hit PT Chakra`s Tea Plantation in Tenjolaya village, Pasirjambu subdistrict, Bandung regency, killing at least 44 people.

Among the dead victims were tea pickers and their children, including three infants. (*)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
COPYRIGHT © 2012

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