H

eavy rains triggered landslides Sunday morning in Palopo, South Sulawesi, killing nine people and leaving four others missing.

Palopo Mayor Pateddungi Andi Tenri Ajeng said nine bodies had been recovered as of Monday, and been identified and claimed by relatives for burial.

The landslides occurred after a three-hour torrential rain drenched the area early Sunday.

Most of the badly hit places were located on deforested mountain slopes.

The landslides took place at around 50 points along the 17-kilometer and 32-kilometer marks of the main highway to Tana Toraja regency.

The road to the tourist spot is now completely cut off after being buried in mud, with officials warning it could take up to three days to clear the path.

The worst-hit area is Tanete village in West Battang subdistrict, West Wara district, where the nine bodies were found and where another four people are believed to be still buried in their homes.

The search for the four is being carried out by a joint team consisting of Indonesian Military soldiers, police personnel, Palopo municipality officials and members of the public.

Palopo municipal spokesman Hermawan Irfan said at the disaster scene that the location of the landslide, on a mountain slope, made it impossible to use heavy machinery in the recovery efforts.

"We can only rely on manual equipment because we can't get the heavy machinery up to the disaster area, which is on a mountain slope," Hermawan said.

"However, the recovery efforts will still go on."