A landslide at an illegal mining site in western Indonesia has claimed the lives of 13 people, according to officials, with rescue operations concluding on Sunday.
The landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, occurred on Thursday in the West Sumatra province of Indonesia's Sumatra Island, where illegal mining is common.
Rescue workers, who had to trek for hours from the nearest village to reach the remote site, discovered the bodies of 13 victims and treated 12 others for injuries.
Ilham Wahib, spokesperson for the regional disaster relief agency, confirmed that the search and rescue mission was completed after all 25 victims, both dead and injured, had been accounted for.
Despite the end of the operation, Wahib noted that a public reporting center would remain open for seven days to allow families to report any missing relatives.
Illegal mines are widespread across Indonesia, a country rich in natural resources. Abandoned mining sites often lure residents to search for leftover gold without proper safety measures, making such operations particularly hazardous.
Landslides and floods are a frequent occurrence during Indonesia's rainy season, exacerbating the risks faced by illegal miners.
Follow the latest news on Google News
