A landslide near an illegal gold mine on Sumatra Island, Indonesia, has killed at least nine people. Authorities are investigating and have immediately closed the area.
Indonesian police revealed that rescue teams have recovered all the bodies after a cliff near a gold mine in the Sijunjung district of West Sumatra collapsed on Thursday.
Susmelawati Rosya, spokesperson for West Sumatra police, stated that the workers were operating about 3 meters from the cliff before soil and rocks violently collapsed on them. Investigations confirmed the site was an illegal gold mine, resulting in nine deaths, while three others escaped just in time.
Following the incident, police and volunteers mobilized to search and used heavy machinery to clear debris in search of victims. The mine has now been closed, police barriers erected to restrict access, and further investigations into illegal mining activities are underway.
The environmental organization WALHI reported that since 2012, at least 48 people have died in accidents at illegal gold mines in West Sumatra province.
In a statement, the organization said this incident reflects the government's failure to protect citizens from illegal mining activities that damage the environment and claim lives.
Previously, Indonesia has suffered several mining accidents, such as last year when at least 18 people died in a limestone mine landslide in Cirebon city, West Java province.
In 2024, at least 23 people died in a landslide near an illegal gold mine on Central Sulawesi Island, Indonesia.
Source:channelnewsasia
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