Rescuers get ready to respond to a deadly landslide in Suwawa, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, on July 8, 2024. The landslide, caused by heavy rains, struck an illegal gold mining site, resulting in fatalities among miners, according to officials.


July 10, 2024 Tags:

Rescue operations escalated on Wednesday in Sulawesi, Indonesia, following a devastating landslide at an unauthorized gold mine that claimed at least 23 lives. The incident occurred in Bone Bolango village, Gorontalo province, where over 100 villagers were prospecting for gold when tons of mud engulfed their makeshift camps. Despite rescuers pulling out 81 survivors, including 18 injured, 33 individuals remain missing.

The National Search and Rescue Agency mobilized more than 1,000 personnel, including army troops, to bolster search efforts. Heavy rains, unstable soil, and rugged terrain have complicated operations, prompting the Indonesian Air Force to dispatch a helicopter to expedite rescue operations.

Informal mining is prevalent in Indonesia, offering precarious livelihoods but posing grave risks such as landslides, floods, and tunnel collapses. Much of the mining involves hazardous chemicals like mercury and cyanide, often with inadequate protection for workers.

The latest tragedy underscores longstanding concerns raised by environmental activists about the environmental and human toll of illegal mining, particularly on Sulawesi. They criticize local authorities for allowing such activities despite their destructive impact on forests and rivers.

Muhammad Jamil of the Mining Advocacy Network blames a network of stakeholders, from miners to local officials, for perpetuating illegal mining practices and shielding perpetrators from legal repercussions. He warns that continued damage to natural resources jeopardizes Indonesia’s economic future.

Ferdy Hasiman, a mining expert, emphasizes the urgent need for government action to curb illegal mining, citing its role in exacerbating environmental degradation and contributing to natural disasters like floods and landslides.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

You may also like

Thousands of People Bid Final Goodbye to Pope Francis at Vatican City

On Friday evening, Pope Francis' wooden coffin was sealed, officially ending the three days his body lay in state at....

George Santos Sentenced To Seven Years For Fraud In House Campaign

George Santos, a former US representative, received a seven-year prison sentence on Friday. The case ended a long controversy that....

Virginia Giuffre, Epstein Accuser, Dies at 41 in Australia

Virginia Giuffre, known for accusing Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse, has died by suicide at 41. Her....

Pakistan halts Indian visas After Deadly Kashmir Attack On Tourists

Pakistan has taken strong steps against India following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists. The....

China Opens Moon Rocks To Global Scientists, Including the US

China has agreed to let scientists from six countries, including the United States, study Moon rocks it collected during its....

Israel Admits Killing UN Worker In Gaza After Initial Denial

Israel's military has admitted that its troops killed a United Nations (UN) worker in the Gaza Strip last month, after....

Trump Criticizes Putin Over Deadly Russian Strikes On Kyiv

US President Donald Trump has expressed his anger over the deadly Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine, stating that he....

Thousands Gather To Bid Farewell To Pope Francis In Vatican

Pope Francis’ body was laid in state at St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, allowing thousands of Catholic pilgrims to pay....

India Calls In Pakistan Envoy Over Kashmir Attack That Killed 26

India took strong diplomatic steps against Pakistan after a deadly attack in Kashmir. The government summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat in....

India Halts Indus Treaty, Closes Attari Border Over Militant Attack

India has taken strong action against Pakistan following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. This attack killed....

6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Near Istanbul, Causes Panic

A strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Istanbul on Wednesday, causing panic in the Turkish city. The quake....

Gaza Health Ministry Defends Accuracy Of Death Toll Data

At al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Alam Hirzallah faces a heartbreaking task: registering the deaths of his cousin’s wife and....