JAKARTA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said Monday that total victims who are still buried alive under the debris of houses collapsed after a landslide in western part of West Java's capital of Bandung numbered 11, instead of 18 announced earlier on the day.
"After collecting the data and conducted further coordination with public figures around the landslide location, it was found out that total victims affected by the landslide were 17 people, with six bodies having been retrieved from the debris. Previously we received reports that it was 24 people," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.
Around 100 people consisting of volunteers, soldiers, regional BNPB, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) officials were involved in searching the victims who were still buried under the dirt and debris.
Due to the tough condition in the landslide site, the rescue efforts have to be conducted manually by hands as heavy equipment cannot access the location.
Sutopo said that two people suffering injuries have been taken to a hospital, while 23 families were evacuated to their relatives ' residence at the moment.
The agency previously reported that the landslide occurred at 5. 30 a.m. local time, incited by heavy downpour since last night around the landslide site located in Mukapayung village in Cililin subdistrict, Western Bandung regency. Nine houses collapsed in the landslide.
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