Rescue teams are searching for survivors after a landslide in the West Bandung region of Indonesia’s West Java province left at least seven people dead and dozens missing, local officials have said.

“The number of ​missing persons ‌is high, we will try to optimise our search and rescue efforts today,” ‌Abdul Muhari, the spokesperson for Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, said on Saturday.
Indonesian news outlet Kompas said a landslide hit Pasirlangu village in West Bandung at about 2am local time on Saturday morning (19:00 GMT on Friday).

“A strong flow” of water and loose soil from the slopes of Mount Burangrang smashed into some 30 homes in the village while most of their inhabitants were sleeping, Kompas said.

Local Police Chief AY Yogaswara said the landslide was accompanied by flash flooding, according to Jakarta-based Antara news agency.

“When the incident occurred, residents heard a loud rumbling sound,” Yogaswara said.

Indonesia’s armed forces, the regional disaster management agency, volunteers, and the local community are all involved in emergency response efforts, he said.

Fearing further tragedy, local authorities have ordered the evacuation of residents in areas which are known to be prone to landslides. The area affected by the landslide on Saturday is estimated to cover some 30 hectares (74 acres), Kompas reports.