The search operation for landslide victims in Cilacap has concluded, but the operation has been extended in Banjarnegara.

SEMARANG, KOMPAS — The search operation for victims of the landslide disaster in Majenang District, Cilacap Regency, Central Java, was concluded on Saturday (22/11/2025) despite two victims still being unaccounted for. Meanwhile, the search operation in Pandanarum District, Banjarnegara Regency, which was originally scheduled to end on Saturday, has been extended for three days due to several individuals still missing.

A landslide disaster struck the area of Cibeunying Village, Majenang District, on Thursday (13/11/2025) night. In this incident, 23 individuals were buried under the landslide debris.

Since the first day of the incident, search operations have been conducted. Hundreds of people from various agencies have participated in the search for the victims. Several heavy equipment have also been deployed to facilitate the search process.

As of Saturday (22/11/2025), or the 10th day of the search operation, joint officers have successfully evacuated 21 bodies from the landslide site. Two other victims have not yet been found, namely Maysarah Salsabila (14) and Vani Hayati (12).

Although there are still two individuals who have not been found, the search, which had been extended for three days, was halted on Saturday. According to M Abdullah, the Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator (SMC) of the Cilacap SAR Office, the decision was made after thorough coordination and evaluation with the victims' families and local government authorities.

"Although we very much hope to find all the victims, in accordance with procedures and considering the effective time limits for the search, we must make this difficult decision," said Abdullah in his statement on Sunday (23/11/2025).

Abdullah stated that, specifically, the duration of the standard operating procedures for victim search and its cessation is further regulated, one of which is in the Regulation of the Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas). Referring to that regulation, search operations are conducted for a maximum of seven days. However, operations can be extended if there are signs or strong indications of victims or based on the considerations of the team in the field.

"The joint Search and Rescue team expresses deep condolences to the families of the victims who have not yet been found and thanks all parties involved in this operation. With the conclusion of the search operation, all SAR elements are returned to their respective units," he stated.

Before ending the search operation, the local government and the victims' families scattered flowers. The event took place in the morning and afternoon in two search areas: work site A1 and work site B1.

The Regent of Cilacap, Syamsul Auliya Rachman, stated that the local government is shifting its focus to post-disaster management, particularly the construction of temporary housing. An area of 3.9 hectares has been prepared for approximately 240 units of temporary housing designed to be developed into permanent residences.

"Our target this month has already begun construction, with a minimum of 50 units to be completed first. Each temporary housing unit is estimated to be finished in about one week," said Syamsul.

Syamsul added that the locations chosen for building temporary and permanent housing will be studied by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation. Once the locations are confirmed to be safe and suitable, his party will submit a request for the construction of permanent housing to the Ministry of Finance through the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

Meanwhile, in the operation to search for victims of the landslide disaster in Pandanarum Village, Pandanarum District, Banjarnegara Regency, which entered its seventh day on Saturday, it was decided to extend the operation for an additional three days. In the eighth day of the victim search operation, Sunday (23/11/2025), the team focused on three designated search areas, namely sectors A, B, and C.

"Today, we are focusing more on the points suspected to be the locations of the victims, based on the assessment results from both information provided by the families and from the indications of tracking dogs," said the Head of the Semarang Search and Rescue Office, Budiono, on Sunday (23/11/2025).

On Sunday, a total of 23 heavy equipment units were deployed to search for victims. The search operation, as stated by Budiono, was hampered by uncertain weather conditions. The landslide area is also quite extensive, and the soil remains unstable.

"As before, in the morning before the joint team moved, we had sent an advance team, namely the K9 (tracking dog) team and drones to conduct an assessment, ensuring the safety of the joint SAR team to operate and to maximize the K9 detection."

As of Sunday night, the search efforts for the victims have not yielded any results. Not a single victim was found throughout the day. The search operation will continue on Monday (24/11/2025).