Illegal Logging Blamed For Indonesian Landslide - At Least 44 Dead

[hatrack]

"Local residents blamed on Sunday illegal logging as the main cause of Friday's landslide in Pasaman regency, West Sumatra, that buried a bus and killed at least 39 of its passengers.

Meanwhile, search and rescue teams continued an intensive search for five more passengers declared missing after the PO ALS bus they were riding was buried under tons of mud. As of Sunday, the teams had found no other survivors or bodies.

The bodies of 39 other passengers have been recovered, while 13 survivors are still receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Ardiyan, a local resident, said the landslide on Friday night was caused by torrential rains that washed away earth and debris from deforested areas in Rimbo Panti Forest, located in Sumatra's mountainous area of Bukit Barisan. The landslide washed down the slopes and over the ill-fated bus that was traveling along a mountain pass. He added that only a few large trees were left in the stripped area of the forest."

EDIT

http://forests.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=31152

[buddy22600]

1. woot, nature fighting back