A tragic incident unfolded in Indonesia's Sulawesi island as a landslide, triggered by heavy rains, struck an unauthorized gold mining operation, resulting in the loss of at least 12 lives with dozens more reported missing. The calamity occurred in the remote Bone Bolango district in Gorontalo province, where over 100 villagers were engaged in gold mining activities on Sunday.
The landslide, caused by tons of mud cascading down the hills, buried the makeshift camps of the miners. Search and rescue efforts managed to save 44 individuals, including six injured persons, while recovering the bodies of 12 victims, including women and a young child. Tragically, 48 individuals remain unaccounted for, adding to the gravity of the situation.
Rescue operations were impeded by adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and blocked roads covered in mud and debris. The torrential rains also led to flooding in five villages in Bone Bolango, with water levels reaching up to 3 meters, affecting nearly 300 houses and prompting over 1,000 people to evacuate to safety.
Informal mining activities are prevalent in Indonesia, offering a precarious source of income for many workers who face significant risks to their safety. Hazards such as landslides, flooding, and tunnel collapses pose constant threats to miners, while the use of toxic substances like mercury and cyanide further compounds the dangers they face.
This tragic incident is not an isolated occurrence, as Indonesia has witnessed similar mining-related accidents in the past. In April 2022, a landslide at an illegal gold mine in North Sumatra claimed the lives of 12 women, while a collapse at an unauthorized mining site in North Sulawesi in February 2019 resulted in the deaths of over 40 individuals.
The recent landslide serves as a stark reminder of the perils associated with informal mining operations and underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and regulatory oversight to protect the lives and well-being of those engaged in such activities.
