Sukabumi, 6/6 (Antara) - A landslide triggered by heavy rains destroyed four houses in Bagbagan hamlet in West Java's Sukabumi district on Thursday morning.
The landslide claimed no lives but forced 26 people to evacuate to safer ground. Some of the evacuees are taking refuge at their neighbors' and relatives' houses.
The landslide also threatened three other houses in the hamlet.
"Twenty-six people lived in the four houses. The landslide was caused by high intensity of rain. In the past three days rain fell over the area," spokesman for the Sukabumi district natural disaster mitigation office (BPBD) Usman Susilo said.
To help alleviate the financial burden of the evacuees, the office had provided them with basic necessaries, including instant noodle, he said.
He said his side was still trying to find a temporary shelter as the houses where the evacuees were taking refuge were located in a landslide-prone area.
There was no immediate report of material losses.
He said the office had assigned some of its officers to the scene to monitor the possibility of other landslides.
"The high intensity of rain has the potential to trigger disasters such as flood, landslide and whirlwind. That's why we ask the local residents to stay alert for disasters during the current bad weather. Right now rains still fall over part of the district," he said.
The BPBD had also been coordinating with other agencies including the military, police and non-governmental organizations in mitigating the impact of disasters, he said.
Aditya
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