Indonesian gold mine disaster: Landslide leaves 19 missing
A tragic landslide struck a gold mine in Indonesia, resulting in one death and leaving 19 others missing. The landslide was triggered by heavy rain.
Main information
- Mudslide at a gold mine in West Papua province.
- One person dead, 19 missing, four injured.
- Rescue operation hampered by bad weather and challenging terrain.
On Friday evening in West Papua province, Indonesia, a tragic landslide occurred. The mudslide destroyed a small gold mine operated by local residents in the Arfak mountains.
At least one person died and four were injured after a mudslide hit a small gold mine in West Papua province in eastern Indonesia, reported local authorities.
The rescue operation began only on Sunday because it took 12 hours to reach the disaster site. At least 40 rescuers, supported by police and military, are involved.
Damaged roads, mountainous terrain, and bad weather hinder operations, said Yefri Sabaruddin, head of the local rescue team, in an interview with Reuters.
Dangerous mines in Indonesia
Fatal accidents in Indonesian mines are not uncommon. Small, often illegal mines are situated in hard-to-reach areas, which not only impedes access to potential victims but also hinders monitoring of the mines.
In September of last year, a similar landslide at a gold mine in West Sumatra province claimed 15 lives. The death toll in July 2024 was even more tragic. Another landslide at a gold mine on the island of Sulawesi resulted in the deaths of at least 23 miners.
