30 people killed and missing due to landslides on Indonesia’s “Sulawesi” Island
Officials said on Monday that at least 12 people died and 18 others were missing after heavy rains caused a landslide at an illegal gold mine over the weekend on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island.
The head of the local rescue agency “Basarnas” said the landslide, which occurred on Sunday morning in the Sumawa area of Gorontalo province, killed miners and some residents living near the illegal mine.
He added that five survivors were evacuated and that a rescue team was searching for 18 missing people on Monday, according to Reuters.
The official said, “We deployed 164 personnel, consisting of the national rescue team and police and military personnel, to search for the missing.”
He added that rescuers had to walk 20 kilometers to reach the landslide site, hindered by thick mud on the road and continued rainfall in the area.
He continued, “We will try to use an excavator when possible.”
Photos of the affected village published by the agency showed that some houses were flattened by the landslide.
The National Disaster Management Agency warned residents that rain was still expected in some areas of Gorontalo province on Monday and Tuesday and urged people to be cautious in case of another disaster.
Heavy rains caused floods and landslides, killing more than 50 people in West Sumatra province, Indonesia, in May.
