Fatal Landslide in Indonesia's Quarry Claims 10 Lives

At least ten quarry workers have died, and six others have been injured as search operations were interrupted by dangerous conditions.

A tragic landslide struck a quarry in West Java, Indonesia, around 10 a.m. on Friday, leading to the deaths of at least ten quarry workers, as reported by the national disaster management agency. Located near the city of Cirebon, over 135 miles east of Jakarta, the incident has left six others injured, who are currently receiving medical treatment in local hospitals.

Visuals shared by Kompas TV captured the rescue operation's hurried efforts as excavators worked diligently to uncover the site in search of survivors buried beneath rubble at the base of the steep hillside. However, search operations came to a halt around 5 p.m. due to poor lighting conditions coupled with the heightened risk of subsequent landslides, according to Mukhammad Yusron, the commander overseeing the regional military district's efforts. Yusron stated that the search would resume on Saturday morning.

Bambang Tirto Mulyono, head of the West Java's energy and mineral resources department, informed Detik Jabar, a local news outlet, that improper mining practices, specifically the method of mining from the bottom of the hill upward, precipitated the landslide. He emphasized that the quarry operator had received strong warnings about adhering to safety protocols, as the site had been cordoned off by Cirebon city police since February over safety violations.

Indonesia's vulnerability to landslides, particularly during the seasonal rains from October through April, has been evident over recent months, exacerbated by ongoing deforestation and illegal mining operations. Just last month, a landslide led to ten fatalities from vehicles during heavy rainfall on the island, and another devastating landslide killed 25 individuals in January on the same island.

As the nation grapples with environmental challenges related to its extensive deforestation over the last 50 years, the soil has become increasingly unstable, threatening communities and posing significant hazards to mining operations across the archipelago of 17,500 islands, which is home to over 280 million people.