8 killed in Indonesia's central Java landslide

JAKARTA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Eight workers of a sand pit in Indonesia's Central Java regency of Magelang were killed in landslide on Monday, while eight others were rescued, Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency BNPB said.

The agency's spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said further search for other workers possibly buried in the landslide was underway involving a task force of fire fighters, military, police, volunteers and Magelang disaster mitigation agency's personnel.

"There was no rain when the landslide took place. They were excavating the sand when it suddenly occurred, burying the workers. We don't know the exact number of workers in the location at that time," Sutopo said, adding that the landslide occurred at around 10:00 a.m. local time.

Deadly landslides in sand pits around the location have occurred several times previously. The almost-vertical high sand walls in the pit were apparently dangerous for the workers.

"The area was more dangerous during the rainy season," Sutopo added.

Sand in the pit were sourced from materials emitted by the province's volcano, Mount Merapi, during its eruptions years ago. Enditem