JAKARTA, Indonesia — Rescue workers dug through tons of mud and rubble on Tuesday as they searched for dozens of missing people after a landslide hit an unauthorized gold mining area on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, killing at least 23 people.
More than 100 villagers were digging for grains of gold on Sunday in the remote and hilly village of Bone Bolango when tons of mud plunged down the surrounding hills and buried their makeshift camps, said Heriyanto, head of the provincial Search and Rescue Office.
Rescuers recovered more bodies on Tuesday in the devastated hamlet where the gold mine is located.
“Improved weather allowed us to recover more bodies,” said Heriyanto, who goes by a single name like many Indonesians.
According to his office, 66 villagers managed to escape from the landslide, 23 were pulled out alive by rescuers, including 18 with injuries, and 23 bodies were recovered, including three women and a 4-year-old boy. About 35 others were missing, it said.
National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said torrential rains that have pounded the mountainous district since Saturday triggered the landslide and broke an embankment, causing floods up to the roofs of houses in five villages in Bone Bolango, which is part of a mountainous district in Gorontalo province. Nearly 300 houses were affected and more than 1,000 people fled for safety.
Authorities deployed more than 200 rescuers, including police and military personnel, with heavy equipment to search for the dead and missing in a rescue operation that has been hampered by heavy rains, unstable soil, and rugged, forested terrain, said Afifuddin Ilahude, a local rescue official.
“With many missing and some remote areas still unreachable, the death toll is likely to rise,” Ilahude said, adding that sniffer dogs were being mobilized in the search.
Videos released by the National Search and Rescue Agency show rescue personnel using farm tools and their bare hands to pull a mud-caked body from the thick mud and placing it in a black bag to take away for burial.
Monsoon rains cause frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia, an archipelago nation of more than 17,000 islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near floodplains.
Informal mining operations are common in Indonesia, providing a tenuous livelihood to thousands who labor in conditions with a high risk of serious injury or death. Landslides, flooding and collapses of tunnels are just some of the hazards facing miners. Much of gold ore processing involves highly toxic mercury and cyanide and workers frequently use little or no protection.
The country’s last major mining-related accident occurred in April 2022, when a landslide crashed onto an illegal traditional gold mine in North Sumatra’s Mandailing Natal district, killing 12 women who were looking for gold.
In February 2019, a makeshift wooden structure in an illegal gold mine in North Sulawesi province collapsed due to shifting soil and the large number of mining holes. More than 40 people were buried and died.
At least 23 people have been confirmed dead in a devastating landslide that struck Indonesia’s East Java province on Saturday. The landslide occurred in the village of Jemblung, burying dozens of homes under tons of mud and debris. Rescue efforts are currently underway to locate and save those who are still trapped beneath the rubble.
The landslide was triggered by heavy rainfall in the region, causing the soil to become unstable and give way. The force of the landslide was so powerful that entire homes were swept away, leaving little chance for those inside to escape. As rescue teams work tirelessly to search for survivors, the death toll continues to rise.
Local authorities have declared a state of emergency in the area, as they coordinate efforts to provide aid and support to those affected by the disaster. The Indonesian Red Cross has set up shelters for displaced residents and is providing medical assistance to those injured in the landslide.
The Indonesian government has pledged to provide financial assistance to the families of the victims and to support reconstruction efforts in the affected area. President Joko Widodo has expressed his condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the tragedy and has called for swift action to prevent similar disasters in the future.
Landslides are a common occurrence in Indonesia, especially during the rainy season when the ground becomes saturated with water. Deforestation and improper land use practices have also contributed to the increased risk of landslides in the country.
As rescue efforts continue in Jemblung, it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by natural disasters and the importance of preparedness and disaster response. The Indonesian government must take steps to strengthen infrastructure and implement measures to mitigate the risk of landslides in vulnerable areas.
In the meantime, the focus remains on rescuing those who are still trapped and providing support to the families who have lost loved ones. The resilience and strength of the Indonesian people will undoubtedly shine through as they come together to rebuild and recover from this tragic event.
