At least 11 people have lost their lives and 19 others are missing after a devastating landslide swept over an unauthorized gold mining operation on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. The incident occurred following heavy rains in the remote Bone Bolango district of Gorontalo province on Sunday.
According to Afifuddin Ilahude, spokesperson for Gorontalo’s Search and Rescue Agency, the landslide occurred while approximately 35 villagers were engaged in gold mining activities in a pit at the small traditional mine. Rescuers managed to save five injured individuals on the day of the incident and recovered 11 bodies by Monday. Efforts to locate the missing 19 individuals are ongoing, hindered by adverse weather conditions and blocked roads covered with mud and debris.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency, reported that the torrential rains also caused floods of up to 3 meters (10 feet) in five villages in Bone Bolango, affecting nearly 300 houses and prompting over 1,000 people to seek safer locations.
Informal mining operations are widespread in Indonesia, offering a precarious livelihood to many despite the high risks involved, including landslides, flooding, and tunnel collapses. The extraction process, often involving toxic substances like mercury and cyanide, poses additional health hazards to workers who frequently lack adequate protective measures.
This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those involved in illegal mining activities in Indonesia. The country has witnessed similar mining-related disasters in the past, underscoring the urgent need for better safety regulations and enforcement in such operations.
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