At least three dead in illegal gold mine collapse

Challenging mission: Rescue teams searching for survivors at the site of the illegal gold mining operation in the village of Buranga in Parigi Moutong Regency, central Sulawesi. — AFP

AN illegal gold mine on Sulawesi island collapsed on nearly two dozen people working inside, killing three and leaving another five missing, officials said.

Survivors estimated that about 23 people were trapped in the rubble when the mine in Central Sulawesi province’s Parigi Moutong district collapsed late on Wednesday due to unstable soil, said Andrias Hendrik Johannes, who heads the local search and rescue agency.