ALBAWABA - A local official reported that a landslide near an illegal central island of Sulawesi, Indonesia led to the killing of at least 11 people, whereas 19 people went missing.
Gorontalo’s Search and Rescue Agency spokesperson, Afifuddin Ilahude, stated that 33 villagers were hunting for grains of gold on Sunday in a pit at the small traditional gold mine in remote Bone Bolango in Gorontalo province when tons of mud plunged down the surrounding hills and buried them.
Ilahude added that rescue teams had saved two people and recovered 11 bodies. Meanwhile, 20 people remain unaccounted for as rescuers continue search efforts.
Local search and rescue agency head Heriyanto stated "Eight people who have died have been evacuated. Five people survived but were injured, from light to heavy injuries,".
According to Heriyanto, a number of the area's bridges collapsed, making it necessary for rescuers to reach the area affected by the landslides on foot because of the challenging terrain.
Heriyanto added that the rescue effort had involved the deployment of at least 180 personnel, including troops and police.
The mineral-rich Southeast Asian islands are home to several unlicensed mines, where abandoned sites draw residents searching for leftover gold ore without the necessary safety gear.
While July is frequently dry with no substantial rainfall, in Indonesia, landslides are frequent during the rainy season, which runs from November to April. At least 15 people were killed in South Sulawesi province in May when landslides and water destroyed several homes and damaged roadways.
