Cliff Collapse Kills at Least Five at Yogyakarta Beach
Jakarta. At least five people were killed on Wednesday when part of cliff collapsed at Sadranan beach in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, burying a total of 11 people.
A volunteer who joined the search and rescue efforts, Kuwat Slamet, said five people had been found dead after being buried under large pieces of rock on Wednesday afternoon, adding that two others had been rescued and four people were still being searched for.
Kuwat said the rescue efforts had to be halted on Wednesday night because of high waves. The rescue effort — with heavy equipment — was resumed on Thursday morning.
"The evacuation efforts, to save victims stuck under the rocks, are underway," Kuwat said on Thursday. "Backhoe machines are being used to break the rocks."
Indah Lestari, who witnessed the collapse, said she was playing on the beach with her niece when it happened.
Indah said she suddenly heard a thundering noise and then the cliff started to collapse.
It was not immediately clear whether rescuers thought the four people still unaccounted for were still alive.
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