A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall has struck an unauthorized gold mining operation on Sumatra island in Indonesia, resulting in at least 15 fatalities, officials reported on Friday. Dozens more are reported missing.
Villagers were searching for gold in the remote Solok district of West Sumatra province when mudslides cascaded from surrounding hills, burying them. Irwan Effendi, head of the local disaster mitigation agency, indicated that at least 25 people remain trapped, while three individuals were rescued with injuries.
Search efforts in the hardest-hit area near Nagari Sungai Abu village have been complicated by additional mudslides, power outages, and communication failures. “The devastated mining area can only be reached by a four-hour walk from the nearest settlement,” noted Ilham Wahab, a spokesperson for the agency.
Informal mining operations are widespread in Indonesia, offering precarious livelihoods to thousands who work in hazardous conditions. Miners face numerous dangers, including landslides, flooding, and tunnel collapses. The processing of gold ore often involves toxic substances like mercury and cyanide, with workers frequently lacking adequate protective equipment.