At least 12 dead and 18 missing after torrential rain causes a landslide at an illegal gold mine in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Rescuers face challenging conditions in search efforts.
Jakarta, Bollywood Fever: At least 12 people have died, and 18 are missing following a torrential rain-triggered landslide at an illegal gold mine over the weekend in Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, officials reported on Monday.
The landslide occurred on Sunday morning in Sumawa district, Gorontalo province, claiming the lives of miners and residents living near the illegal mine, according to Heriyanto, head of the local rescue agency (Basarnas).
Five survivors have been evacuated, while a rescue team continues to search for the 18 missing individuals. “We have deployed 164 personnel, consisting of the national rescue team, police, and military personnel, to search for the missing people,” Heriyanto said. However, he noted that the rescuers face a challenging 20-kilometer trek to reach the landslide site, hampered by thick mud and ongoing rain in the area. “We will try to use an excavator once it’s possible,” he added.
Photos of the affected village shared by the agency depict flattened houses and widespread destruction. Indonesia’s disaster agency (BNPB) reported that the landslide damaged several houses and one bridge. BNPB also warned that rain is expected to continue in some areas of Gorontalo province on Monday and Tuesday, urging residents to remain vigilant for further disasters.
This incident follows a series of deadly landslides in Indonesia. In April, a landslide in South Sulawesi killed at least 18 people due to high-intensity rains. In May, torrential rain triggered flash floods and mudslides in West Sumatra province, resulting in more than 50 fatalities.
As rescue efforts continue, the focus remains on finding the missing and providing aid to those affected by this tragic event. The challenges faced by the rescue teams highlight the difficult conditions in which they are operating, underscoring the ongoing risk posed by illegal mining activities and severe weather conditions in the region.
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