A tragic landslide at an illegal gold mine on Indonesia's central island of Sulawesi has claimed at least 23 lives, with 35 individuals still missing, local rescue officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The devastating landslide struck a remote village in the Bone Bolango regency of Gorontalo province amid heavy downpours at midnight on Saturday. 🌧️
Unlicensed mines are all too common across the mineral-rich Southeast Asian archipelago. These abandoned sites often attract locals who hunt for leftover gold ore without proper safety equipment, putting their lives at risk.
Rescue teams are tirelessly working to locate the missing, but the remote location and ongoing adverse weather conditions have made the efforts challenging.
This incident highlights the ongoing dangers associated with illegal mining operations and the urgent need for better regulation and safety measures to protect those who seek livelihoods in these precarious environments.
