Indonesian gold mine tragedy: One dead, 19 missing in landslide
A tragic landslide occurred in Indonesia at a gold mine, resulting in one fatality, while 19 others are reported 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 took place. The landslide 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 the West Papua province in eastern Indonesia, reported local authorities.
The rescue operation only began on Sunday because it took 12 hours to reach the disaster site. At least 40 rescuers, supported by police and military, are involved.
Dangerous mines in Indonesia
Fatal accidents in Indonesian mines are not uncommon. Small, often illegal mines are found in remote areas, which complicates not only access to potential victims but also the monitoring of the mines.
In September last year, a similar landslide at a gold mine in the West Sumatra province took 15 lives. The death toll from 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.
