Padang, Indonesia—A devastating landslide at an unlicensed gold mine in West Sumatra resulted in the deaths of at least 15 workers on Thursday afternoon, with an additional 25 individuals reported missing.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the incident occurred in Nagari Sungai Abu, Solok regency, where sudden soil shifts overwhelmed the mining site. Irwan Efendi, Chief of the Solok Disaster Mitigation Agency, confirmed the casualties and noted that three other miners were injured. Efforts to rescue those still unaccounted for are intensifying, with additional rescuers and heavy machinery being mobilized to aid in the evacuation efforts.
The prevalence of unlicensed mining operations across Indonesia has led to several fatal accidents in recent years. For instance, in July, a similar landslide at a gold mine in the eastern province of Gorontalo claimed over 20 lives and left more than ten individuals missing. The recurring incidents highlight ongoing safety challenges in the country’s informal mining sector.
