TALEGONG INCREASINGLY SURROUNDED BY MUD, NUMBER OF FATALITIES UP

Garut, Feb 16 (ANTARA) - A search was still conducted for the body of Tatang (41) who was buried in 5 meters high mud in Kubang, Sukalaksana village, Talegong , Garut, and for some others who may had the same fate.

Last night, Datar Balendung hamlet, Sukamulya village, in Talegong subdistrict, 120 km south of Garut, was engulfed by landslides which killed Wahyu of Cipasang hamlet, subdistrict chief Rena Sudrajat said Tuesday.
The landslide had caused Talegong to become increasingly surrounded by landslides and mud flows, making the area totally isolated, and right now four locations were still covered with thick mud and killed three local villagers, two of whom were still missing.

The subdistrict chief also said that the provincial road linking Talegong, Garut, and Pangalengan, Bandung, was totally cut off in the last eight days, causing a virtual halt to the economic activities of the people.

The disaster site in Talegong could be reached only by foot covering hundreds of kilometers or by helicopter, he said.

While Talegong had become increasingly surrounded by mud, no local administration officials came to the area for inspection, but relief aid including foodstuffs kept pouring in.