Rescue efforts are underway in eastern Indonesia after a deadly landslide struck a small-scale gold mine in the Arfak Mountains of West Papua Province, leaving at least 19 people missing, according to the country’s National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB).
The incident occurred on Friday following two consecutive days of heavy rainfall, which triggered the landslide and swept through a mining area operated by local residents. The landslide buried several temporary shelters used by miners, killing at least one person and injuring four others, authorities confirmed over the weekend.
Search and rescue teams, along with local volunteers and emergency personnel, are continuing operations despite difficult weather conditions and the rugged terrain of the mountainous region. The BNPB said the remote location and lack of infrastructure are complicating efforts to locate the missing miners, but operations will continue until all individuals are accounted for.
“The landslide buried makeshift huts used by the miners. We are doing everything we can to find the missing, but the conditions on the ground are very challenging,” a spokesperson for the agency said.
Small-scale mining operations are common in Indonesia, particularly in mineral-rich but remote regions like Papua. However, these sites are often unregulated and lack proper safety protocols, making them vulnerable to disasters. Many of the miners operate informally, often digging without permits or oversight.
Friday’s landslide is the latest in a series of deadly incidents linked to unregulated mining in the country. In September 2024, at least 15 people were killed when an unlicensed gold mine collapsed in West Sumatra Province, sparking renewed calls for tighter enforcement and oversight of mining activities across Indonesia.
The Indonesian government has long struggled to monitor and control illegal mining, particularly in isolated regions where access is limited and local economies depend heavily on informal resource extraction. Environmental groups and safety advocates have urged stronger regulation to protect workers and the surrounding ecosystems from the growing risks posed by such operations.
As the search continues in West Papua, local officials are urging residents to avoid high-risk areas, especially during the ongoing rainy season, which increases the likelihood of landslides and other natural hazards.
The BNPB said it will provide further updates as rescue efforts progress and more information becomes available.
