Landslide in West Java Buries Dozens of Homes, 23 Marines Missing
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A devastating landslide in cisarua, West Bandung Regency, West Java, has engulfed dozens of homes and left 23 Indonesian Marines unaccounted for, officials confirmed on Monday, January 26, 2026. The disaster, triggered by days of heavy rainfall and strong winds, has prompted a large-scale search and rescue operation.
Initial Reports and Conditions
The landslide struck Pasir Kuning Village in Cisarua on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at approximately 3:00 AM local time. According to the Head of Pasirlangu Village, Nur Awaludin Lubis, the area had experienced relentless rainfall for the preceding two days. “It happened around 03.00 in the morning, the center was at RT 05/11. It has been raining continuously for two days,” Lubis stated when reached by local media. Initial assessments indicate that around 30 houses were buried, though authorities are continuing to verify the exact number.
The landslide’s cause is directly linked to two days of continuous,heavy rainfall that saturated the soil,destabilizing the hillside. The affected area, Pasir Kuning Village, is situated in a mountainous region prone to such disasters.the initial impact buried approximately 30 homes, with the exact number still under verification by authorities. Local village head, Nur Awaludin Lubis, reported the landslide occurred around 3:00 AM, focusing the initial devastation on the RT 05/11 section of the village.
Marines Involved in Pre-Deployment Training
A significant advancement in the unfolding tragedy is the confirmation that 23 members of the Indonesian Marine Corps were among those impacted by the landslide. KSAL Admiral muhammad Ali revealed that the Marines were in Cisarua conducting pre-service training in planning for deployment to secure the border between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. “Because they were carrying out pre-service training to be sent to carry out security at the RI-PNG border,the training was carried out there,” Ali explained following a meeting with commission I of the DPR.
The Marines were stationed in Cisarua specifically for pre-deployment training intended to prepare them for border security duties along the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea frontier.This training exercise placed them in the direct path of the landslide, resulting in thier involvement in the disaster. As of Monday,January 26,2026,search and rescue teams have recovered the bodies of four Marines,but the remaining 19 remain missing.
Search and Rescue Efforts Underway
As of Monday, January 26, 2026, search and rescue teams have recovered the bodies of four Marines. However, the remaining 19 remain missing. The ongoing operation is facing significant challenges due to inclement weather and difficult access to the disaster site. Ali noted that heavy equipment is currently unable to reach the area due to narrow roads and adverse conditions. “Heavy equipment cannot yet enter, due to weather conditions and small roads. But we will carry out a search using technology using drones and thermals and sniffer dogs,” he said.
The Indonesian military is utilizing advanced technology, including drones equipped with thermal imaging and sniffer dogs, to aid in the search for survivors.The evacuation process remains active, with authorities working to assess the full extent of the damage and provide assistance to affected residents.
