A house damaged by a landslide in Natuna, Riau island province, Indonesia, March 6. (Photo: Reuters)
Rescuers are waiting for equipment and reinforcements to ramp up efforts to find the 42 people still missing, the disaster agency said.
Friday's landslide came after six days of torrential rain and buried many homes in a village on Searasan Island in the Natuna region, about 80 kilometers from Borneo.
Disaster agency spokesman Abdul Muhari said the landslide area was estimated to be 100-200 meters long and only 42 people were involved in the rescue mission due to the complex remote location.
Mr. Muhari said that heavy equipment such as excavators had not yet arrived, and rescuers had to travel by boat and other vehicles, then on foot.
"The death toll could increase at any time. Out of the 15 killed, 10 bodies have been found," Abdul said, adding 1,216 residents had moved to temporary shelters in houses. mosques and community health centers.
Rescuers search for victims at the site of a landslide in a village on Serasan island. (Photo: AP)
A video taken at the scene of the landslide showed helmeted rescuers working with flashlights in the dark to try to rescue victims, destroyed homes and flooded roads. mud.
Abdul said two helicopters would be dispatched from the capital Jakarta on March 7 to assist in the rescue effort, as well as one plane carrying tents, food and blankets for the evacuees.
The head of Natuna's rescue agency told Antara News Agency that military troops will be deployed to assist in the rescue work and that some equipment has been sent, including first-class equipment and machinery. weights and lighting equipment.