Rescuers search for trapped miners in Indonesia's Sulawesi island (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – At least three people were confirmed dead after an illegal gold mine collapsed in Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on February 26.
Latest information of the National Agency for Disaster Management of Indonesia (BNPB) revealed that the three bodies and 14 alive others with various wounds were found on February 27 morning.
Local authorities said more than 30 people are being trapped while search and rescue forces are racing against time to search for the victims based on their voices. The number of survivors is yet to be determined.
However, the rescue work faces many difficulties due to unstable land in the area which is still prone to shifting and sliding. Advanced search and rescue tools cannot be deployed as they could pose danger to the trapped miners.
The mine’s beams and support boards broke suddenly due to unstable land’s condition, resulting in the incident.
An official of the BNRP said it is seeking ways to send drinking water to the victims, yet adding that the situation may worsen if the agency is unable to detect the miners’ location.
Mining accidents often occur in Indonesia due to illegal activities which increase the risks of new ones. An accident took place also in Sulawesi in December 2018, killing five. Earlier, in 2015 and 2016, two cases in Jambi province and Java island claimed 23 lives. -VNA
Latest information of the National Agency for Disaster Management of Indonesia (BNPB) revealed that the three bodies and 14 alive others with various wounds were found on February 27 morning.
Local authorities said more than 30 people are being trapped while search and rescue forces are racing against time to search for the victims based on their voices. The number of survivors is yet to be determined.
However, the rescue work faces many difficulties due to unstable land in the area which is still prone to shifting and sliding. Advanced search and rescue tools cannot be deployed as they could pose danger to the trapped miners.
The mine’s beams and support boards broke suddenly due to unstable land’s condition, resulting in the incident.
An official of the BNRP said it is seeking ways to send drinking water to the victims, yet adding that the situation may worsen if the agency is unable to detect the miners’ location.
Mining accidents often occur in Indonesia due to illegal activities which increase the risks of new ones. An accident took place also in Sulawesi in December 2018, killing five. Earlier, in 2015 and 2016, two cases in Jambi province and Java island claimed 23 lives. -VNA
VNA
