JAKARTA — A devastating landslide, triggered by relentless rainfall, has struck an unauthorized gold mining site on Sulawesi island in Indonesia, resulting in the tragic loss of 11 lives, officials confirmed on Monday.
The incident unfolded on Sunday at a small-scale traditional gold mine located in the remote area of Bone Bolango, within Gorontalo province. According to Afifuddin Ilahude, spokesperson for Gorontalo’s Search and Rescue Agency, approximately 33 villagers were engaged in gold panning when torrents of mud cascaded from the surrounding hills, engulfing them.
Rescuers managed to extract two survivors on Sunday, while the grim task of recovering bodies continued through Monday, yielding a total of 11 casualties so far. Efforts are ongoing to locate 20 individuals who remain missing, Ilahude stated.
Indonesia frequently witnesses such informal mining activities, which serve as a precarious means of livelihood for thousands of workers operating under hazardous conditions that pose significant risks of injury and fatality.
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