Seven people died and one other still missing after a landslide buried workers at an unlicensed gold mining site in Indonesia’s West Sumatra province, an official said on Tuesday.
Nine people were also injured in the incident on Monday when mud and large rocks tumbled down, following heavy rain the previous day in South Solok district, said Raditya Jati, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency.
“Rough terrain made it difficult to rescue and transport the victims,’’ the agency said.
Deadly accidents are common in illegal mining sites in Indonesia.
About two dozen people have been killed in similar disasters this year.
The widespread use of mercury by small-scale miners had also led to various health problems, experts said.
dpa/NAN
