Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia has deployed rescuers to search for missing people after torrential rain caused a landslide in an illegal gold mine on July 7 morning in Sulawesi island, local authorities said on July 8.
The landslide killed 12 miners and residents living near the illegal mine, said Heriyanto, head of the local rescue agency (Basarnas).
Five survivors had been evacuated while a rescue team was searching for 18 missing people.
According to Heriyanto, 164 rescuers including police and military personnel are deployed for searching activity.
The rescuers must walk about 20km to reach the landslide site and are being hampered by thick mud over the road and continuing rain in the area, Heriyanto said.
Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency warned residents that rain is still expected in some areas in Gorontalo province on July 8-9. The agency urged people to be alert in case of further disaster.
In April, a landslide caused by high-intensity rains in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi killed at least 18 people. In May, flash floods and mudslides killed more than 50 people in the country's West Sumatra province./.
