
Tragedy Strikes: Six Dead and 14 Missing After Devastating Landslide at Indonesian Gold Mine
2025-05-19
Author: Ming
In a heartbreaking turn of events, a raging landslide triggered by relentless torrential rains has claimed the lives of six workers at a gold mine in Indonesia's Papua region, while 14 others remain unaccounted for. The disaster unfolded on Friday, forcing rescue efforts to be halted temporarily on Monday due to adverse weather conditions.
The landslide struck a small mine operated by local residents in the Arfak mountains of West Papua. Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency, reported that the temporary shelters used by miners were completely engulfed.
Rescue operations, expected to continue on Tuesday, have faced significant challenges. Yefri Sabaruddin, the leader of a rescue team comprising 40 police and military personnel, cited treacherous terrain and severely damaged roads as major hindrances to their efforts. "Reaching the site requires a grueling 12-hour journey from the nearest town," he stated, highlighting the complexities involved in such remote operations.
Initial reports indicated just one fatality and 19 missing, but the tally has since been updated as more information has come to light. Authorities are bracing for the possibility that the casualty numbers could rise.
The risks associated with small-scale and illegal mining are a recurrent theme in Indonesia, where many mineral resources lie in hard-to-reach locations, posing a challenge for regulatory oversight. Last September, a similar tragedy in West Sumatra resulted in the deaths of at least 15 individuals due to a landslide at an illegal gold mine after heavy rains.
As the search for the missing continues, the community and officials are left grappling with the reality of this tragic incident, raising urgent questions about safety standards in the country's mining industry.