Heavy rains pause search for missing gold miners after deadly landslide in Indonesia

Rescuers in Indonesia have had to stop searching for 14 gold miners missing after a landslide killed six people at a remote mine in Papua province.

The landslide and flooding happened late Friday near a small mine in the Arfak Mountains, triggered by hours of heavy rain. Temporary shelters used by the miners were swept away in the storm.

Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency, said the floodwaters hit the miners’ housing around 9 pm local time. Four others were injured.

Rescue teams, including police and military, face tough conditions—bad weather, damaged roads, and rough mountain terrain. It takes about 12 hours to reach the site from the nearest town, said Yefri Sabaruddin, leader of the rescue team.

Officials plan to resume the search on Tuesday when the weather improves.

Unlicensed mining is common in Indonesia, where many work in unsafe conditions at abandoned or informal mines, increasing the risk of accidents. Authorities have not confirmed the legal status of this particular mine.

Indonesia often faces landslides during the rainy season, which lasts from November to April. Past landslides at illegal mines in West Sumatra and Sulawesi have also caused many deaths.

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