Landslide in Cilacap: The Impacts, Risk Factors, and Evacuation Process

A landslide in Cilacap on Thursday, November 13^th, 2025, has a complex risk. This disaster attracts public attention. In order to immediately address all risks that arise, the government took swift action to coordinate disaster management.

The Impacts

The terrible landslide caused any victims. It claimed 18 lives, while five others are still being searched for. The evacuation team immediately set out to solve all the disaster risks.

The impact of the landslide is complex. There were residential areas and public facilities buried by the landslide. So, the material loss is significant. Totally, 16 houses collapsed or were lost, while 25 houses were affected by the landslide. The landslide was also hit the agricultural land. The area is about one hectare.

This disaster occurred very quickly. Many residents were trapped and had no time to escape. It occurred at night and was marked by a thunderous sound. As a result of the landslide, the mud rose to neck height and dragged everything in the landslide area.

Risk Factors of Landslide in Cilacap

A landslide struck again in Central Java, specifically in Cibeuying Village, Majenang, Cilacap, at the end of 2025. It was caused by extreme weather, specifically heavy rain in the long term that lasted until nighttime. Heavy rain is a sign of extreme climate change.

Other factors besides heavy rain increase the risk of landslides. According to residents, the open, bare land devoid of trees meant the soil structure was weak. As a result, there was nothing to prevent the collapse. Some residents even observed cracks in the ground the day before the landslide. They were circular and deep cracks, with approximately one meter in width.

Heavy rain causes increased water pressure, causing shifts in the ground mass. This causes cracks. In a long time, these cracks worsen, leading to landslides.

Evacuation Process

To ensure the impact of the landslide in Cilacap is immediately resolved, the Indonesian government instructed the rescue team to immediately begin evacuation. Coordination is continuously maintained to effectively complete each step of the evacuation. The detailed process of the evacuation can be found here.

1. Preparation for the Location

Before starting an evacuation, the BMKG coordinates with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to do a weather modification operation. It was carried out as an effective solution to reduce the potential for heavy rain or extreme weather.

The technical implementation of weather modification is handled by the BMKG, while the operational funding is the responsibility of the BNPB. Weather modification aims to reduce rainfall intensity before evacuation teams enter the affected area. This reduces the potential for further landslides and thus prevents disruptions to the evacuation process.

After weather modification is implemented, the evacuation team immediately surveys the location with adequate evacuation equipment. The number of team members involved is also adjusted according to needs to ensure an effective evacuation.

2. Landslide Area Security

The landslide site was secured by the evacuation team. The goal was to ensure a smooth and effective evacuation, so that missing victims are found quickly and the landslide site is cleared again. Failure to close roads and display evacuation signs could result in further casualties among the general public entering the area.

3. Evacuation of Victims

All survivors were directed to the refugee area, such as the Cibeunying Village Hall, the Baiturrahman Wanasari Mosque, the MTS SS Cibeunying, and several other homes. Various medical assistance, necessities, and temporary shelter were provided. Clean water sources were also immediately sought to meet the need for clean water. 

The government also proposed providing temporary housing for the community until the settlement restoration process was complete. Search and rescue teams then searched for missing victims in the landslide-affected area. They encountered challenges due to the constant movement of material, which caused the location to shift.

Landslide in Cilacap is a climate disaster with multiple triggers. Their risks also threaten safety. The chain of prevention and mitigation efforts requires continuous attention and improvement. Regarding prevention, early warning systems for landslides can be more accurate by sending emergency messages to mobile phones. Warnings can be sent in real time.

To facilitate this, the government can provide a message-sending machine based on SMS (Short Message Service). It has a wide reach across all operators, with a range of 500 m to 2 km. This specific machine can be purchased at smsbroadcaster.com. Product photos and complete specifications are available on the official website.