SUARA NEGERI | CISARUA — West Bandung Regency Regent Jeje Ritchie Ismail has declared a disaster emergency status following a landslide that struck residential areas in the Cisarua area, causing a large number of casualties, on Saturday (January 24, 2026).
This status was declared to expedite the response process, search for victims, and aid distribution to the affected community.
"We have declared a disaster emergency status because there are so many victims. We will also deploy officers because access here is difficult. We will have officers to maintain the flow so that aid can continue to enter, because it was very difficult when I got here," said Jeje, while inspecting the landslide site yesterday.
Based on preliminary data as of 12:00 PM WIB, Jeje stated that 113 people from 34 families were affected by the landslide.
"A total of 113 people from 34 families were affected. Eight were found dead, 23 survived, and around 82 people are still missing, and that number could continue to rise," he said.
He emphasized that the regional government will strengthen disaster mitigation measures going forward, considering that West Bandung and West Java in general are disaster-prone areas.
"We will conduct extensive coordination, especially in vulnerable areas such as hills and sloping land," he said.
With this disaster emergency status, all regional resources will be maximized for victim care and efforts to prevent similar disasters in the future.
(Jeane Patikawa)
