Moving Land Disaster Indonesia: A Brief Report on Recent Landslides/Land Movement

Many regions in Indonesia have high land movement disaster risks during the rainy season. Therefore, it is not surprising that landslides occurred in many regions this year. Some landslides occurred suddenly without warning, but another moving land disaster Indonesia happened slowly.

The slow-moving landslide was currently ongoing in a couple of regions in Java. This phenomenon is not as deadly as the rapid and sudden landslide. However, the slow land movement is as destructive as the common landslide.

Moving Land Disaster Indonesia

Indonesia is prone to geological disasters, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and landslides. These disasters may cause the Earth to move. However, land moving during earthquake or volcanic eruptions has slightly different characteristics compared to that in landslides.

1. Landslide Risks in Indonesia

Every rainy season, sloping areas in Indonesia are extremely prone to landslides. According to the report, at least 330 landslides occurred in this country last year.  Moreover, in the last two months, January and February 2026, the country already experienced roughly 15 landslides.

In addition, another report said that over 20 million people in Indonesia live in landslide-prone regions.  At least 300 people die in landslides in this country each year. Landslides also displace tens of thousands of people.

2. Landslide Triggers

The high risks of landslides in Indonesia are driven by both natural and man-made factors. Below are common landslide triggers in this country.

• Extreme Rainfall: Extreme and prolonged rainfall can cause the soil on the slopes to lose its stability. Therefore, landslides in Java often occur after a rainfall of 30 mm/day or 63 mm over three days.

• Deforestation: Commercial plantations and other deforestation practices have increased landslide risks in Indonesia. Those practices reduce the root systems that hold soil in place. Thus, the soil loses its natural barriers against erosion and landslides.

• Geology and Topography: Another trigger for the moving land disaster Indonesia is the steep slopes. Many sloping areas in this country have slope angles of over 25^o. Moreover, they consist of fractured rocks or loose volcanic soil, which are unstable.

• Land Conversion: Rapid urbanization in hillsides and other sloping areas has contributed to the high number of landslides in Indonesia. This condition is typically accompanied by poor drainage systems, leading to water buildup on hillsides.

  
  

  3. Fast-Moving and Slow-Moving Landslides

Landslides come in 4 types. Recently, Indonesia experienced two of them, i.e., mudflows and creeping landslides. The former is typically a liquid-like flow consisting of debris, water-saturated soil, and rocks. 

Moreover, mudflows commonly move rapidly and occur after heavy rainfall. They typically occur without warning. They can instantly bury a village, giving villagers almost no opportunities to escape. Consequently, these landslides can cause high fatalities.

On the other hand, creeping landslides are characterized by slow and continuous downward movement. These hazards are almost imperceptible. 

However, those living in the affected areas may hear rumbling sounds and notice cracks on walls or the ground, sticking doors, and tilting poles. Creeping landslides are caused by various causes, including unstable soil type, heavy rainfall, and unstable slopes. 

These slow-moving hazards are destructive. However, it will not cause high fatalities if people stay away from the affected areas.

Recent Land Movement Disasters in Indonesia

Several regions in Indonesia experienced landslides recently. Below are the most phenomenal land movement disasters that occurred in this country in early 2026.

1. Slow Moving Landslide in Tegal

A creeping landslide recently happened in Padasari Village, Tegal. The land in this village began to shift on February 2, 2026, after prolonged heavy rain. According to the report, this land movement has continued for approximately three weeks.

However, the local authorities stated that the intensity of land movement in Padasari Village had decreased on February 23. Still, they continued to monitor this hazard.

The creeping landslide affected approximately 900 houses and many public facilities. Almost half of those houses were badly damaged. Moreover, the hazard has displaced more than 2,400 villagers.

2. Landslide in Tasikmalaya

Another slow-moving land disaster has been ongoing in two villages in two different subdistricts in Tasikmalaya since February 16. This creeping landslide also occurred after prolonged extreme rainfall.

So far, this hazard has damaged 5 houses. However, this number may increase because local authorities predicted that the land movement may spread to a larger area. Consequently, roughly 50 houses are at risk of being damaged by this creeping landslide.

3. Landslide in Bandung Barat

At the end of January 2026, Pasir Langu Village in Bandung Barat was hit by a sudden landslide. This hazard instantly buried the village, causing more than 30 houses to be uninhabitable. The landslide in Pasir Langu also buried more than 80 people.

This land movement hazard occurred after an extreme rainfall of 220 mm per day. In addition, the topography of Pasir Langu made the village more vulnerable to landslides. Moreover, the soil in this sloping area is unstable because it is made of old volcanic materials.

The risk of moving land disaster Indonesia is particularly high during the rainy season. Thus, the Indonesian government must warn the people about the danger of landslides during the heavy rainfall period. To warn them, the government can adopt the cell broadcast machine from smsbroadcaster.com. This technology is efficient and effective for wireless alert dissemination.