Cilacap : The death toll from the devastating landslides in central Java has risen to 30 as rescuers continue to search for dozens of people still missing after days of heavy rain triggered widespread destruction.

The worst damage was reported in the districts of Cilacap and Banjarnegara, where entire houses were buried under mud and rocks when rain soaked hillsides collapsed earlier this week. Search teams made up of police officers soldiers and disaster response workers are using heavy machinery and working through unstable ground to reach buried homes.

Officials said ten people were found dead in Banjarnegara and twenty bodies were recovered in Cilacap. At least twenty one people remain missing and authorities warn the number could rise as operations continue. More than one thousand residents have been evacuated from risky areas in both districts.

Rescuers say their progress has been slowed by flowing water on the slopes and thick layers of debris that make it dangerous to dig. Many teams are working in shifts to speed up the search while also trying to prevent fresh collapses.

Indonesia is in its rainy season which lasts until April and often brings floods and landslides especially in hilly regions. Local authorities have announced plans to relocate hundreds of families living in high risk zones to safer areas. Affected households will receive compensation and temporary shelters have already been set up for those who lost their homes.

Rescue efforts are expected to continue over the coming days as weather conditions remain unpredictable and families wait anxiously for news of their missing loved ones.