The search for bodies of victims of a landslide at a tea plantation in Bandung was hampered Wednesday by heavy downpours, local authorities reported.
Seventeen bodies were recovered from the area, but efforts to dig out another 26, buried in up to 3 meters of mud and earth at the 35-hectare area plantation, had to be suspended.
"The area is slippery, making it difficult for vehicles to get in," said Pasir Jambu district official Kosasih.
At least 26 people are missing and feared dead from the landslide that occurred at around 8 a.m. Tuesday in Tenjolaya village, Pasir Jambu district, Bandung regency.
The disaster site is 60 kilometers south of Bandung municipality, and is difficult to access.
Some of the bodies recovered Wednesday have been identified by family members.
The landslide destroyed 21 homes, a plantation office, a co-op office, a sports hall, a mosque, part of the plantation's processing building, and a step-down power transformer, causing an estimated Rp 5 billion (US$536,000) in damage.
Heavy rains that began at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday hampered recovery efforts and forced rescuers to temporarily stop using their three excavators.
Aiding in relief efforts was the Indonesia Red Cross, which sent an all-terrain vehicle and 30 personnel along with 500 blankets and 500 hygiene kits.
Vice President Boediono paid a visit to the location Wednesday and handed over Rp 200 million as part of a relief fund.
Among his entourage were Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, Coordinating Public Welfare Minister Agung Laksono, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto and West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan.
The Vice President called on all governors to take precautionary measures against such disasters in their provinces.
"This is important; no governor should be ignorant of the danger spots in their provinces that are prone to landslides," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
Landslides have also hit other parts of Indonesia.
In Bandarlampung, heavy rains caused a landslide that seriously damaged five homes, while four villages in Jambi province were cut off after the only road leading to them was blocked by a landslide.
With 26 more bodies still to be recovered, the Bandung landslide is proving to be the deadliest disaster of the year.
The stricken area was home to half of the 2,000 workers employed at the plantation owned by PT Cakra Perkebunan Teh Dewata.
Boediono cautioned the company about the workers' safety.
"I've spoken with the plantation company about prioritizing the safety of the workers," he said.
"If possible, they should the workers' residences to a safe place."
