Landslides Kill 24 in Indonesia and Vietnam

Heavy rains triggered deadly landslides across Southeast Asia this week, claiming at least 24 lives and leaving dozens missing, as authorities in Indonesia and Vietnam mounted challenging rescue operations amid ongoing wet weather.

In Indonesia's Central Java province, landslides struck two regions last week, killing at least 18 people and leaving more than 30 others unaccounted for, according to the national disaster mitigation agency. The incidents occurred during the early stages of the country's wet season, which began in September and is expected to continue until April, bringing risks of extreme rainfall and flooding.

One major landslide hit Cibeunying village in Cilacap city on Thursday, burying a dozen houses under mud and debris up to 8 meters deep. The agency reported that search and rescue teams faced significant obstacles due to unstable terrain and deep burial depths. As of Monday, officials confirmed 16 deaths in Cilacap, with seven people still missing. "Excavators were deployed to dig through dirt," noted M. Abdullah, head of the local search and rescue division. More than 700 personnel, including military, police, and volunteers, joined the effort, using heavy...