Deadly Mine Collapse in Indonesia: 15 Fatalities, Search Ongoing

Gold Mine Tragedy in Indonesia

 “...the victims are the residents who manually mine for gold...”

Indonesia mine collapse - 15 dead, 7 missing, 3 injured in West Sumatra gold mine disaster, rescuers face 8-hour trek to remote site.

Heavy rainfall triggered a catastrophic landslide, collapsing an illegal gold mine in West Sumatra, Indonesia, on September 26, claiming at least 15 lives.

A devastating landslide triggered by heavy rainfall collapsed an illegal gold mine in West Sumatra, Indonesia, on Thursday, September 26, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people.

Rescue teams are racing against time to locate seven missing individuals, while three others are receiving medical attention for serious injuries.

Indonesia's remote mineral-rich regions often witness small-scale illegal mining accidents due to inadequate regulation and monitoring.

According to Irwan Efendi, head of the provincial disaster agency, the Solok district mine collapse occurred on Thursday, September 26, evening following heavy rain-induced landslides.

Rescuers embarked on an arduous eight-hour trek to reach the remote mine site, inaccessible by road, to search for survivors.

According to Irwan Efendi, head of the provincial disaster agency, the victims were local residents who manually mined for gold.

He said, “the victims are the residents who manually mine for gold.”

Efendi estimated that 25 people were inside the mine during the collapse, with:

• 15 confirmed dead
•  3 injured
•  7 still missing

On Friday, September 27, police and military personnel launched a joint search and recovery operation to locate the missing individuals and retrieve the deceased.