JAKARTA, Indonesia – More than half of Indonesia's population live in areas vulnerable to landslides, a disaster management expert said Thursday (March 28th), explaining the situation was largely due to traditional farming methods, AFP reported.

National Disaster Management Agency (BNBP) official Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said 124 million Indonesians out of a total population of about 240 million live in areas deemed "moderate- to high-risk" for landslides.

"Population growth and greater volume of rain as a result of climate change have increased the potential for landslides, but the most dominant factor is land degradation from farming activities," Sutopo said.

At least 12 people were killed Monday in a landslide triggered by torrential rains in western Java.