This handout photo taken and released on May 19, 2025 by Indonesia’s search and rescue agency (BASARNAS) shows rescuers recovering bodies after hours of heavy rain triggered flooding and a landslide near a gold mine. Photo: AFP PHOTO / INDONESIA SEARCH AND RESCUE AGENCY (BASARNAS)
Six workers in West Papua are dead after a landslide at a gold mine.
Reuters reported torrential rains on Monday forced a halt to the search for the 14 still missing after the disaster, which engulfed temporary shelters used by miners.
Abdul Muhari, the spokesperson of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency, said the rains had triggered Friday's landslide, which hit a small mine run by residents of the Arfak mountains.
Authorities will resume their search on Tuesday.
Yefri Sabaruddin, the head of a team of 40 rescuers, including police and military officials, told Reuters it took 12 hours to travel to the site from the nearest town.
He said the search effort was hampered by "damaged roads and mountainous tracks as well as bad weather".
Small-scale and illegal mining has often led to accidents in Indonesia, where mineral resources are located in remote areas in conditions difficult for authorities to regulate.
Last September, at least 15 people died in the collapse of an illegal gold mine in Indonesia's province of West Sumatra following a landslide caused by heavy rains.
The Turkish Embassy in Jakarta has commented on social media, saying: "We are deeply saddened to learn that landslide in West Papua Province, boat accident in Bengkulu and explosion at ammunition disposal site in West Java have caused many lives and injuries".
"We extend our sincere condolences to the brotherly people and the Government of Indonesia."
