Landslide at Illegal Gold Mine in West Sumatra Claims Nine Lives

JAKARTA: Nine suspected illegal gold miners were killed after a landslide struck a mining site in the Koto VII district, Sijunjung regency, in Indonesia’s West Sumatra province on Thursday afternoon.

West Sumatra Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Susmelawati Rosya said the incident occurred at approximately 12.30 pm local time while 12 miners were working at the site.

“Three workers managed to survive the landslide of debris, while the remaining nine were confirmed dead,” she said in Padang, as reported by Antara News Agency on Friday.

According to preliminary findings, a cliff located around 30 metres from the mining area is believed to have suddenly collapsed, sending large amounts of soil and debris onto the miners below.

Search and evacuation efforts were immediately launched by police personnel together with local residents. The victims were recovered gradually throughout Thursday afternoon before their bodies were handed over to family members for burial.

Authorities said the tragedy once again highlighted the dangers surrounding illegal mining activities, which continue to pose serious safety risks in several regions across Indonesia.

Susmelawati said the West Sumatra Police and provincial authorities have intensified efforts to tackle illegal mining through enforcement operations, public awareness campaigns, preventive measures and educational outreach programmes.

She noted that large-scale crackdowns had recently been conducted in Sawahlunto, Solok and Pasaman in an attempt to curb the activity.

“We are making every effort, including seeking a long-term and permanent solution to this issue,” she said.

However, she acknowledged that illegal mining operations frequently resume after enforcement actions conclude, describing the situation as an ongoing challenge for authorities.