The men were taking a lunch break after searching for firewood at the foot of a hill in Malang district when a steep part of the hill collapsed on them, district police chief Rinto Djatmono said.

'It's been raining heavily for several nights and the earth on the hill had come loose,' he said.

'Nine men were killed after they were buried under the landslide and rocks.

Seven others were injured and taken to the hospital,' Mr Djatmono said.

Landslides and floods are common in Indonesia during the rainy season, which hits a peak from December to February.