Indonesia Dozens missing after landslide at Indonesian gold mine
Emergency services are searching for dozens of people trapped at an illegal gold mine in Indonesia. 17 workers have now been found dead after a landslide and 45 others are still missing, said Haji Asmar, head of the local emergency services in Gorontalo province. More than 50 men have been found alive.
09.07.2024, 07:59
SDA
The workers' camp at the mine on the island of Sulawesi was buried under tons of mud and debris in a landslide on Saturday. This was preceded by heavy rainfall.
Mines without safety standards
The heavy rain also repeatedly hindered the rescue work. "The weather and terrain conditions are the biggest obstacles to the search," said a spokesperson for the rescue teams.
Illegal gold mining is widespread in Indonesia, where poor people expose themselves to great danger in order to extract valuable natural resources. The mines often lack any safety standards and fatal accidents occur time and again.
