95 survive from gold mine landslide in Indonesia with 27 still missing

By Xinhua Published: Jul 11, 2024 10:22 AM

Rescuers conduct rescue operation after landslides hit Tulabolo village in Bone Bolango regency, Gorontalo province, Indonesia, July 10, 2024. Indonesia on Tuesday nearly doubled the number of rescuers and deployed heavy machinery and a helicopter to search for victims of landslides and flash floods in Bone Bolango regency of Gorontalo province, according to a senior rescuer. (Photo: Xinhua)

Police and a sniffer dog conduct rescue operation after landslides hit Tulabolo village in Bone Bolango regency, Gorontalo province, Indonesia, July 10, 2024. Indonesia on Tuesday nearly doubled the number of rescuers and deployed heavy machinery and a helicopter to search for victims of landslides and flash floods in Bone Bolango regency of Gorontalo province, according to a senior rescuer. (Photo: Xinhua)

The number of people who survived the landslides and flash floods in Bone Bolango regency, Gorontalo province, Indonesia, increased to 95 on Wednesday, according to an official.

The death toll of the disaster was still 23 as no other bodies were discovered, said Bagus Asmara, head of the operational unit of Garontalo search and rescue office, adding that the count of missing people dropped to 27 while the number of survivors rose to 95.

The survivors include miners, their families, and vendors providing supplies for mining operations.

Rescue efforts were hampered by poor weather and unstable soil conditions, with a halt in the search operation due to the heavy rain on Wednesday.

"The unstable soil conditions could trigger further landslides, and the thick soil covering the camps necessitates the use of excavators," he said.

The landslides and flash floods in the mining area were caused by heavy rainfall, which struck the camps and carried them away.