Rescue operations at a quarry in West Java, Indonesia, have been paused due to safety concerns after a landslide took the lives of at least 10 workers. The disaster, which struck near Cirebon, is attributed to unsafe mining practices and has once again highlighted the dangers faced in Indonesia's mining sector, particularly during the rainy season.
Landslide Tragedy Claims Lives of Quarry Workers in Indonesia
Landslide Tragedy Claims Lives of Quarry Workers in Indonesia
A recent landslide in a West Java quarry has resulted in at least 10 fatalities, with rescue operations hindered by dangerous conditions.
Rescuers searching for victims following a landslide at a quarry mine in Indonesia were met with perilous conditions as the search operation was put on hold on Friday evening. In a tragic incident that occurred around 10 a.m. local time, a landslide in West Java claimed the lives of at least 10 quarry workers, bringing to light the ongoing issues of safety in mining operations.
The landslide, reported by Indonesia’s national disaster management agency, left six others injured who are currently being treated in local medical facilities. News broadcast by Kompas TV depicted the desperate aftermath, showing heavy machinery digging through the debris while officials scoured the area for any potential survivors at the base of a steep hill.
Mukhammad Yusron, the commander of the local military district, announced that rescue efforts had been suspended around 5 p.m. due to falling darkness and the looming threat of additional landslides. The search is slated to resume the following day.
Bambang Tirto Mulyono, head of the West Java department of energy and mineral resources, stated that the landslide was the result of improper mining techniques employed in the area—specifically mining from the base of the hill upwards rather than starting from the top down. He expressed frustration at the mine's operator, noting that warnings about hazardous practices had been communicated repeatedly, and that the local police had cordoned off the area since February because of significant safety violations.
Indonesia is notorious for its seasonal rains between October and April, which exacerbate the risks of landslides. This incident comes just weeks after a separate landslide in Java claimed 10 lives, and another in January resulted in 25 fatalities, underlining a troubling pattern of disaster in the region.
In a country with a population exceeding 280 million and characterized by extensive deforestation—largely due to agricultural development and illegal mining—soil instability persists as a critical issue. Just last November, 24 individuals died in a landslide at an unregulated gold mining site on Sulawesi island, further accentuating the need for stricter safety protocols in Indonesia's mining sector.
The landslide, reported by Indonesia’s national disaster management agency, left six others injured who are currently being treated in local medical facilities. News broadcast by Kompas TV depicted the desperate aftermath, showing heavy machinery digging through the debris while officials scoured the area for any potential survivors at the base of a steep hill.
Mukhammad Yusron, the commander of the local military district, announced that rescue efforts had been suspended around 5 p.m. due to falling darkness and the looming threat of additional landslides. The search is slated to resume the following day.
Bambang Tirto Mulyono, head of the West Java department of energy and mineral resources, stated that the landslide was the result of improper mining techniques employed in the area—specifically mining from the base of the hill upwards rather than starting from the top down. He expressed frustration at the mine's operator, noting that warnings about hazardous practices had been communicated repeatedly, and that the local police had cordoned off the area since February because of significant safety violations.
Indonesia is notorious for its seasonal rains between October and April, which exacerbate the risks of landslides. This incident comes just weeks after a separate landslide in Java claimed 10 lives, and another in January resulted in 25 fatalities, underlining a troubling pattern of disaster in the region.
In a country with a population exceeding 280 million and characterized by extensive deforestation—largely due to agricultural development and illegal mining—soil instability persists as a critical issue. Just last November, 24 individuals died in a landslide at an unregulated gold mining site on Sulawesi island, further accentuating the need for stricter safety protocols in Indonesia's mining sector.
