A powerful landslide ripped through three villages in killing three people and leaving 20 others missing in Indonesia.

The wave of mud crashed down the hillside and swallowed homes in Central Java on Thursday evening.

Authorities said at least three locals were found dead while 20 were still missing.

Footage shows rescue teams and villagers searching through flattened homes for survivors in Cibeunying village on Friday.

Suharyanto, head of the National Disaster Management Agency, said: 'We are going to evacuate those in vulnerable areas so that they leave their homes before any further landslides happen and cause additional casualties.'

Heavy equipment have been deployed to aid in rescue efforts, but unstable ground conditions were hampering the operation, officials said.