Jakarta – A landslide occurred at an illegal mining site in Solok Regency, West Sumatra, late Thursday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of 12 miners, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said in an updated statement on Saturday, 28 September. The landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, engulfed workers around 5 pm in the Nagari Sungai Abu area of Hiliran Gumanti District.
The Solok Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) reported that the soil’s instability, exacerbated by the downpour, led to the catastrophe. Of the deceased, four bodies have been recovered and removed from the disaster site, while rescue teams continue to search for seven miners still missing.
The operation has faced significant challenges due to the terrain’s condition following the landslide. The remote location has also hindered the accessibility for vehicles, complicating the rescue efforts. Emergency response teams, including the military (TNI), police (Polri), national search and rescue agency (Basarnas), and local community members, are working tirelessly at the site.
Three miners were severely injured in the incident and are currently receiving medical attention. BPBD continues to oversee the search and rescue operations and has advised all personnel and local residents to proceed with caution due to the potential risk of further landslides and unstable ground conditions.
Weather forecasts predict continued lightning and rain in the Hiliran Gumanti sub-district through Saturday, raising concerns about the ongoing safety and efficacy of the rescue efforts. Authorities urge the public and those involved in the operations to maintain vigilance during this critical time as they navigate the challenging conditions to find the missing miners. (nsh)
Banner photo: Solok Regency landslide (BNPB handout)
Edit, 28 Sep, 17.20 — BNPB stated that as of Saturday, September 28, at noon local time, “12 people died, two people are still being searched, and 11 people survived. Previously, it was reported that there were 15 fatalities, but after re-verification, the number was corrected. Communication errors occurred due to network difficulties at the incident scene, which is a blank spot area, so the initial information received was not entirely accurate.”
