Indonesian gold mine disaster: Landslide claims life, 19 missing
A tragic landslide occurred in Indonesia at a gold mine where one person died, and 19 others are considered missing. The cause was heavy rain.
Main information
- Mudslide at a gold mine in the West Papua province.
- One person dead, 19 missing, four injured.
- Rescue operation hampered by bad weather and challenging terrain.
On Friday evening in the West Papua province of Indonesia, a tragic landslide occurred. The mudslide destroyed a small gold mine run 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 the West Papua province in eastern Indonesia, reported local authorities.
The rescue operation only started on Sunday because it took about 19 kilometres (12 miles) 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 located in difficult-to-access areas, which not only hinders access to potential victims but also the monitoring of the mines.
In September last year, a similar landslide in a gold mine in the West Sumatra province claimed 15 lives. The death toll from July 2024 was even more tragic. Another landslide in a gold mine on the island of Sulawesi resulted in the death of at least 23 miners.
