Breaking news (TopIndianNews)
In a devastating incident, at least 15 people have lost their lives after a gold mine collapsed in Indonesia's Sumatra province, following a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall. As of Friday, rescue teams are desperately searching for at least seven individuals who remain missing.
The illegal gold mine, located in the Solok district, crumbled on Thursday evening under the pressure of a landslide caused by torrential rains. Irwan Efendi, head of the provincial disaster agency, revealed that rescuers face a grueling eight-hour trek to reach the remote site, which is inaccessible by road. "The victims were local residents engaged in manual gold mining," Efendi told Reuters.
According to Efendi, approximately 25 people were inside the mine when the collapse occurred. Among them, 15 were confirmed dead, three sustained injuries, and seven are still unaccounted for. Police and military forces launched a search operation early Friday morning to locate the missing and evacuate the deceased.
Indonesia has a history of accidents related to small-scale and illegal mining, particularly in remote areas where mineral resources are abundant but difficult for authorities to regulate. The villagers in Sumatra were sifting for gold when the landslide buried them, highlighting the ongoing risks associated with unregulated mining operations.
This tragic event echoes previous disasters, such as the July landslide in Sulawesi, which killed 23 people at an unauthorized gold mining site. The dangers are compounded by hazardous working conditions, including the use of toxic substances like mercury and cyanide, often with little to no protective measures.
Indonesia’s last major mining disaster occurred in April 2022, when a landslide at an illegal gold mine in North Sumatra killed 12 women. Such incidents underscore the urgent need for stricter regulation and enforcement in the country’s mining sector.
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