30-7-2023 (JAKARTA) Tragedy struck as eight individuals trapped in an illegal gold mine on the Indonesian island of Java are feared dead, with little progress in search efforts after five days.
Unlicensed mines, often operating without basic safety measures, are unfortunately common across the mineral-rich Southeast Asian archipelago, leading to frequent accidents.
The ill-fated workers were digging in a 60-meter deep hole located in Pancurendang village, Central Java, on Tuesday evening when the mine was suddenly flooded with water.
In a desperate attempt to rescue the trapped miners, rescuers worked tirelessly to pump out the water around the clock and tried to dam a nearby river. However, as of Sunday, the mining shaft remained flooded, and there was little hope of finding survivors.
Adah Sudarsa, the head of the local search and rescue agency, expressed the grim reality of the situation, stating, “This is already the fifth day. We expect the bad news that the victims have died.”
Despite the challenges, the rescue effort will continue until Tuesday in the hope of recovering the bodies of the miners, which have yet to be found.
Authorities initially planned to deploy divers to assist in the search, but Priyo Prayudha Utama, another local rescue official, stated that it was not possible due to the narrowness of the mine shaft.
It was revealed that most of the trapped miners had migrated from West Java to seek opportunities in the region.
In response to the tragedy, police have taken action, charging four individuals, including one who remains at large, for operating the illegal mine without a permit. If convicted, they could face up to five years in prison and fines amounting to 100 billion rupiah (approximately US$6.6 million).
Regrettably, this is not the first incident of its kind. In 2021, six people lost their lives in a collapse at an illegal gold mine on Sulawesi island. Two years earlier, at least 16 individuals were killed in a similar tragedy at another illegal gold mine on the same island.
