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landslide in Brebes regency, Central Java, that claimed at least seven lives was caused by high-intensity rainfall, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

The BNPB had flown a drone to check on the conditions in Pasir Panjang village in Salem district in Brebes and to study the cause of the landslides. BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the agency found that the area on Mount Lio where the landslide occurred was still in good condition with no deforestation. The forest was still of a high density and there was no residential area in the upstream area.

“The rain triggered the landslide. This is purely a natural disaster,” he said in a press statement on Sunday.

As of Sunday, 750 personnel from a joint search and rescue team were still on the ground searching for victims. The team has identified seven fatalities in the incident. At least 13 people are missing and five suffered injuries in the landslide, which also forced nearly 1,000 people from their homes.

The evacuation of the victims was hampered by weather conditions, difficult terrain and limited heavy equipment, Sutopo added.