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A devastating landslide at a quarry in West Java, Indonesia, resulted in the deaths of at least 10 workers on Friday, as reported by the national disaster management agency. The tragic event, which took place around 10 a.m. near Cirebon—approximately 135 miles east of Jakarta—has left six other individuals injured, requiring medical attention at local hospitals.
Rescue efforts were documented by the news outlet Kompas TV, revealing excavators digging through debris while officials conducted searches for any remaining survivors at the base of the steep slope. However, the search was suspended at approximately 5 p.m. due to approaching darkness and concerns over potential additional landslides, according to Mukhammad Yusron, the local military district commander. Plans are in place to resume search operations on Saturday.
Bambang Tirto Mulyono, head of West Java's energy and mineral resources department, informed Detik Jabar that the landslide's cause was linked to improper mining techniques, specifically the practice of mining from the base of the hill upwards rather than from the top down. He further noted that the mining operator had been warned multiple times about unsafe practices, with police having restricted access to the site since February for failing to adhere to safety regulations.
Indonesia is no stranger to landslide occurrences, particularly during the rainy season that lasts from October to April. Notably, last month, a landslide caused the deaths of 10 individuals in Java, and in January, a separate incident claimed 25 lives. The nation's deforestation efforts over the last half-century, primarily to clear land for palm oil and agriculture, have exacerbated conditions for soil instability, compounded by illegal gold mining ventures.
In November, a tragic landslide at an unauthorized mining site on Sulawesi island led to the deaths of 24 people, highlighting the urgent need for stricter adherence to safety protocols and mining regulations in the region.
A devastating landslide at a quarry in West Java, Indonesia, resulted in the deaths of at least 10 workers on Friday, as reported by the national disaster management agency. The tragic event, which took place around 10 a.m. near Cirebon—approximately 135 miles east of Jakarta—has left six other individuals injured, requiring medical attention at local hospitals.
Rescue efforts were documented by the news outlet Kompas TV, revealing excavators digging through debris while officials conducted searches for any remaining survivors at the base of the steep slope. However, the search was suspended at approximately 5 p.m. due to approaching darkness and concerns over potential additional landslides, according to Mukhammad Yusron, the local military district commander. Plans are in place to resume search operations on Saturday.
Bambang Tirto Mulyono, head of West Java's energy and mineral resources department, informed Detik Jabar that the landslide's cause was linked to improper mining techniques, specifically the practice of mining from the base of the hill upwards rather than from the top down. He further noted that the mining operator had been warned multiple times about unsafe practices, with police having restricted access to the site since February for failing to adhere to safety regulations.
Indonesia is no stranger to landslide occurrences, particularly during the rainy season that lasts from October to April. Notably, last month, a landslide caused the deaths of 10 individuals in Java, and in January, a separate incident claimed 25 lives. The nation's deforestation efforts over the last half-century, primarily to clear land for palm oil and agriculture, have exacerbated conditions for soil instability, compounded by illegal gold mining ventures.
In November, a tragic landslide at an unauthorized mining site on Sulawesi island led to the deaths of 24 people, highlighting the urgent need for stricter adherence to safety protocols and mining regulations in the region.
