Digging deep: Villagers trying to evacuate the victims stuck about 20m underground at an unlicensed coal mine, in Muara Enim regency, South Sumatra province. — AFP
A LANDSLIDE sparked by heavy rains has killed 11 miners in Indonesia, authorities said, marking the latest in a string of deadly mining accidents across the South-East Asian archipelago.
The victims were about 20m underground at an unlicensed coal mine near a village in South Sumatra province when the accident happened on Wednesday.
“The ground wasn’t firm because heavy rains have hit the area recently, ” said Ansori, an official with the local disaster mitigation agency, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
“It was also a traditional mining site so safety regulations were generally ignored, ” he added yesterday.
The bodies of all the victims have been recovered, Ansori said.
Unlicensed mines are common across mineral-rich Indonesia and the scene of frequent accidents.— AFP
Did you find this article insightful?
100% readers found this article insightful
