Asia-Pacific

Poor condition hinders rescue efforts for Indonesian landslide victims

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-24 15:01

JAKARTA: Rescuers have asked to send helicopters to the scene of landslide in West Java where at least seven people were killed and over 60 others missing, rescuers said on Wednesday.

Coordinator of the rescue team Roki Asikin, who is on the way toward the location, said that the road condition toward the scene is very poor and some parts of the road were cut off by the landslide during the rain.

"We have asked our headquarters in Jakarta to send two helicopters to speed up travel to go to the location. The road is badly damaged in some sections,"he told Xinhua over phone from Kabupaten Bandung of West Java.

The road condition is not fit for transportation, according to West Java Disaster Management Agency.

Communication with the affected areas has been difficult due to damaged telephone network, the agency said.

The landslide, which occurred on Tuesday morning, buried 35 houses in Ciwidey district of Bandung regency of West Java.

A Metro television footage shows a huge amount of soil buried the houses.

Vice Indonesian President Boediono visited the site on Wednesday.