By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar
JAKARTA, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Indonesian authorities have confirmed that 15 miners have died in a landslide that struck an illegal mining area in Solok district, West Sumatra province on Thursday.
National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said four bodies have been evacuated so far, while three injured victims were rescued and seven others are still being sought after.
“The incident in Nagari Sungai Abu, Hiliran Gumanti sub-district, occurred after heavy rain in the illegal mining area, which destabilised the ground,” he said in a statement.
According to Solok Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) head Irwan Efendi, efforts to locate survivors have been hampered by various challenges, including a lack of mobile phone signal in the area.
The landslide struck at 5pm on Thursday, but search operations at the site -- an eight-hour walk away due to lack of vehicle access -- did not begin until Friday at 3 am local time, conducted by local residents and rescuers with limited resources.
“The landslide site is situated in a former mining pit that had been abandoned by previous miners,” Irwan added.
-- BERNAMA
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