Landslide Kills at Least Three in Ambon as Rescuers Keep Searching for Survivors

The Jakarta Globe, May 27 2012


Ambon. Three residents were killed after a landslide choked full of garbage smashed into their houses and buried them early on Sunday, a village chief said.

The fatalities were identified as Noor Nirahuwa and her grandchild, Putri Nirahua and Evy Karual, Kudamati village chief, Herman Tetelepta said, adding that the accident occurred at 2:50 a.m. on Sunday following heavy rain.

“The SAR team searched for the victims slowly because they were trapped in three houses that were buried under the hoards of garbage,” Herman said.

One person was found alive amid the debris and evacuated to M. Haulussy general hospital, Herman said.

Meanwhile, herman said a search and rescue team is still looking for approximately five people who are reportedly still buried under the landslide at the Batu Gantung area of Kudamati village.

Rescuers believe that some four people survived the initial flood and are trapped in a house, Herman said.

Two years ago, landslides in the same area killed eight people.