Search and rescue workers observing a landslide scar on Feb 3, 2026 at the Pondi illegal tin mining site in Pemali district, Bangka regency, Bangka Belitung Islands. - Courtesy of Pangkalpinang SAR Office
JAKARTA: Search and rescue workers have found six bodies of the seven workers buried by a landslide that occurred on Monday (Feb 2) at the Pondi illegal tin mining operation in Bangka Belitung Islands.
Eleven workers were at the site when the landslide occurred, burying seven workers in the illegal tin mine in Pemali district, Bangka regency.
“One more victim was found dead in the middle of the night, so six bodies have been brought to the Depati Bahrin General Hospital in total,” Bangka Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Rusmanyah said on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com.
Rusmanyah said that most of the workers were from Lebak and Pandeglang regencies in Banten. He added that there were 11 people working when the landslide took place, with four people managing to escape.
Authorities have verified the identities of Sanam, Dul Manap, Abeng, Anuwar, Abad and Arif, detik.com reported.
When found, the bodies were covered in mud and were not easily identifiable, with identification continuing at the hospital.
Meanwhile, Pangkalpinang SAR Office chief Mikel Rachman Junika said the mine workers were buried together with the heavy equipment they had been using at the time. The landslide occurred on Monday at about 5pm, possibly due to steep land contour and unstable soil structure.
“The search was conducted until the middle of the night and continued on Tuesday morning,” Mikel said, as quoted by kompas.com.
Those who were unharmed tried to rescue their coworkers immediately after the landslide, three people were found dead soon after, and two other dead bodies were discovered later. SAR workers used two heavy pieces of equipment owned by the mining company.
The joint SAR team consisted of Pangkalpinang SAR Office, Bangka Police, Bangka BPBD, police Mobile Brigade (Brimob), Laskar Sekaban disaster volunteer group and residents living near the mining site.
“The challenge is the unstable soil, we are concerned there would be subsequent landslides,” Mikel said. “We maintain coordination with the authorities and other SAR potentials to optimize the search process.”
Separately, state-owned tin producer PT Timah said that the landslide took place in an illegal mining operation outside the company’s area.
“The accident, is a disaster, taking place in an illegal mining operation and is not part of PT Timah’s operations,” PT Timah corporate communication department head Anggi Siahaan said in a written statement, as quoted by tribunnews.com.
“We convey our deep condolences on the accident.” PT Timah said it would provide assistance for the search effort by deploying its heavy equipment and coordinating with relevant authorities. The tin mining company also calls on all miners and business partners to obey all regulations and apply occupational safety and health principles in all mining activities.
“We hope the accident will not happen again. Occupational safety and health principles must be prioritized for mutual safety,” Anggi said. Illegal mining activities are prone to accidents due to the lack of safety procedures by workers and management.
At least two workers died while working at an illegal gold mine in Muara Tagor, Kotanopan district, Mandailing Natal regency, North Sumatra, on Jan 31 afternoon. Two other workers suffered from severe wounds during that landslide.
Eight workers at an illegal gold mine in Limun district, Sarolangun regency, Jambi, died on Jan. 20, also after being buried by a landslide.
Earlier on Jan 14, 11 workers died due to exposure to toxic gas at the Pongkor illegal gold mine in Nanggung district, Bogor regency, West Java. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
