Death toll in Indonesia's Java landslides rises to 18

The death toll from landslides that struck Pekalongan region in Indonesia's Central Java province on Tuesday has risen to 18, according to the provincial disaster mitigation agency, reported Xinhua.

Bergas Catursasi Penanggungan, head of the Central Java disaster mitigation agency, said that over nine people are still missing following the landslides that occurred in Petungkriyono village. The landslides also critically injured 10 individuals, partially damaged two houses, and swept away several vehicles.

He said the floods and landslides in Pekalongan are believed to have been caused by heavy rain that fell in the area on Monday.

"The search for victims is still going on," he said, adding that heavy equipment was deployed to help search for other victims.

Penanggungan said humanitarian assistance, including food and temporary shelter, is being prepared for the affected families.

Landslides have become frequent in Indonesia during the rainy season. On Monday, five construction workers died when a landslide hit a village on the island of Bali following days of torrential rain.

Meanwhile, rescuers on Tuesday retrieved the body of a victim killed in a shopping mall fire in the Indonesian city of Jakarta, bringing the total number of deaths to nine, according to the city's disaster mitigation agency.

The body was discovered at around 2 p.m. local time in a karaoke room on the eighth floor after six days of searching. The victim has been sent to the police hospital for further identification, along with the other victims, said Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Mohamad Yohan.

The blaze broke out at Glodok Plaza on Wednesday evening last week in the densely populated Tamansari sub-district. Many visitors were in the mall at the time. The fire, suspected to have originated on the seventh and eighth floors, was fully extinguished by Friday.

Police have said that it will take several days to identify the victims and that an investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, the city administration announced plans to evaluate the safety standards of Glodok Plaza in response to the incident.