A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 jolted southwestern Indonesia, causing widespread tremors across the region. The quake struck at a considerable depth, reducing the potential for severe damage.
Indonesia resumes search for 35 missing after deadly landslide
Meanwhile, Indonesia has resumed search operations for 35 missing individuals following a devastating landslide at an illegal gold mine on Sulawesi island, which has already claimed at least 23 lives. The search, involving nearly 400 personnel and a helicopter, faces significant challenges due to thick mud and difficult terrain.
Indonesia deployed a helicopter and hundreds of rescuers on Tuesday to continue the search for 35 people still missing after a landslide at an illegal gold mine on the island of Sulawesi. The disaster, triggered by torrential rain, has already claimed at least 23 lives, according to the search and rescue agency.
Challenges in rescue operations
The landslide, which occurred on Sunday, buried miners and residents in the district of Suwawa in Gorontalo province, over 2,000 km east of Jakarta. Nearly 400 rescuers are involved in the operation, which resumed on Tuesday after heavy rain halted efforts on Monday. Rescuers are facing thick mud, and some have had to walk more than 20 km to reach the site.
Survivors' ordeal
Nopri, a miner, told MetroTV that he spent about eight hours buried under a meter of debris before being rescued. He and his companions survived by breathing through gaps in the debris and had some water to stave off thirst. They were forced to wait for rescue as their attempts to escape caused more dirt to fall back on them.
Previous disasters
Landslides are common in Indonesia, often exacerbated by deforestation and illegal mining. Earlier in the day, the death toll from the landslide was reported at 17, with 45 missing. In May, flash floods and mudslides killed over 50 people in West Sumatra, and in April, a landslide in South Sulawesi claimed 18 lives.
