Twelve people killed and 18 missing after landslide at illegal gold mine on Indonesian island of Sulawesi

A dozen people were killed on Sunday when heavy rains triggered a landslide at an illegal gold mine on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

Five people were rescued, but 18 are still trapped in the mine in the remote Bone Bolango region of Gorontalo province, local authorities said on Monday.

Nearly 35 villagers were searching for gold grains in a small traditional mine when they were hit and buried by a landslide, said Afifuddin Ilahude, a spokesman for Gorontalo’s search and rescue agency.

He said rescue efforts had been “hampered by heavy rain and blocked roads covered with thick mud and debris.”

The Indonesian disaster management agency said the landslide also damaged several houses and a bridge.

She warned of further rains in Gorontalo province on Monday and Tuesday and urged residents to remain vigilant.

“We have deployed 164 personnel from the national rescue team, police and military to search for the missing people,” Heriyanto, head of the local rescue agency, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

He said rescue workers had to walk 20 kilometers to reach the landslide site because the roads were covered with thick mud and the rain continued to persist.

“We will try to use an excavator as soon as possible,” said Mr Heriyanto, who is identified only by his first name.

In May, more than 50 people were killed in the Indonesian province of West Sumatra by flash floods and landslides caused by torrential rains.

Additional reporting by agencies.